The threats to the redbay tree of southern coastal areas are vividly described in Susan Cerulean’s new article on www.terrain.org
Redbay will brush against you - from your knees to your chest - from Virginia south into the Everglades, and west to Texas if you walk into a river bottom forest, or a coastal hammock. High in the canopy, there it is too, filling up the space between the level ground and the branching of live oaks, palms and pines. You can count dozens to hundreds of trees per acre.
“Something’s dead wrong in these woods,” said Georgia forester Chip Bates. “You may be seeing extinction in progress.”
"Mississippi, Texas, Alabama--y'all better brace up,” said Bates. “This disease is coming your way, and man, it moves fast.”
Although the redbay ambrosia beetle is undoubtedly invading new territory through its own flight, it can move much farther and faster with human help. Firewood, logs, or nursery stock of wilted of dead trees should not be transported, except to be destroyed locally, by burning or in a landfill.
Read Susan Cerulean’s heart-tugging description of what is threatening the redbay tree of southern coastal areas – and what we can do to stop the invader’s spread. Go to www.terrain.org/articles/22/cerulean.htm to view the article on laurel wilt and the impact of loss of redbays.
