Laurel wilt is caused by the fungus Harringtonia lauricola (spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle) and impacts native species in the laurel family like sassafras and spicebush.
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSAGM) have established an official laurel wilt quarantine district across five Suffolk County Townships, following the confirmation of this highly destructive and impactful invasive plant disease on Long Island.
Quarantine Locations
Towns in Suffolk County: Huntington, Babylon, Smithtown, Islip, and Brookhaven
To limit the spread of the disease, the following restrictions are now in place:
Sassafras and spicebush woody material, along with untreated firewood of any species, may not be moved out of the quarantine district.
Nursery-grown sassafras and spicebush from within the district require a permit and compliance agreement with NYSAGM to be moved.
Untreated firewood or woody materials less than 29 inches, regardless of species, are prohibited from leaving the quarantine district unless they are first chipped to less than one inch in two dimensions, covered with a tarp, and kept on site for at least seven days.
Keep an eye out for:
- Sudden wilting and browning of leaves.
- Dark streaking of the sapwood beneath the bark.
- Small entry holes on branches or trunks surrounded by fine, sawdust-like frass “toothpicks.”
Report it. If you see sassafras or spicebush wilting or dying suddenly, report it through iMapInvasives or to DEC Forest Health.
Visit DEC for more information: HERE
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Reminder: Don’t Move Untreated Firewood
Moving firewood long distances is a primary way invasive insects and plant diseases spread to new forests. Untreated firewood can harbor hidden insect eggs, larvae, plant disease spores, or invasive seeds that spread much faster and further when transported by humans than they would naturally.
Don’t move the infected wood materials off your property. Whenever possible, chip the wood and use it as mulch on your property. As an extra precaution, place a tarp over the wood chips for at least a week to help kill any surviving beetles.
If you are located outside of the quarantine district, please wait to cut down the host until you receive a response to your report submission in case samples need to be taken for testing.
