NORTHPORT, NY – “A new and troubling threat has arrived on Long Island’s forested landscapes. Laurel wilt (Raffaelea lauricola), an invasive and deadly fungal disease, has been detected here for the first time, marking the first confirmed case in New York State. The discovery came after a resident in Northport noticed a dying sassafras tree and reported it for further testing. What experts found has wide-ranging implications for Long Island’s forests, wildlife, and communities.” as reported in an article by Long Island Parks on September 2, 2025.
The fungal disease is carried from tree to tree by a very small non-native beetle called the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus), an invasive species first discovered in 2002, predominantly found in Southern states. This Ambrosia beetle bores into the wood, introducing the fungal disease from it’s biting mouthparts, leaving sawdust “toothpicks” sticking out of the bark, small bore hole tunnels, and a blueish staining on the wood under the bark. Other signs of an infected tree are wilting or drooping leaves that quickly turn brown, while still clinging to branches followed by a dying canopy at the top of the tree.
Horticulturist and Speaker Hugh Conlon states, “Only plants in the Laurel family are susceptible to laurel wilt.” The most severely affected species in the New York area are Sassafras (S. albidum), spicebush (Lindera benzoin). In warmer climates, Redbay and Avocado are susceptible species, “while mountain-laurel (Kalmia latifolia), rhododendrons, and sweetbay magnolia (M. virginiana) are not susceptible.”
“Why This Matters for Long Island” as per Long Island Parks, “The loss of sassafras and spicebush would be more than just the disappearance of familiar trees and shrubs. These species support a network of wildlife and ecological functions:
- Wildlife food sources: Spicebush berries provide late-season fuel for migratory birds each fall.
- Pollinator habitat: Both plants support a variety of insects, including the iconic spicebush swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillars rely on them.
- Forest diversity: Sassafras and spicebush add to the variety of native species in our woodlands, keeping ecosystems resilient and balanced.
If laurel wilt spreads unchecked, Long Island could lose a key piece of its ecological fabric, with ripple effects throughout the food chain.”
Long Island Parks shares how we can help. “Residents and park visitors can play an important role in identifying and reporting new cases. Stay alert when hiking or walking in wooded areas and check your own property for signs of infection. Report any suspected cases of laurel wilt to the Cornell Cooperative Extention or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Avoid moving firewood, which can spread invasive pests and diseases to new areas. Share information with neighbors and community groups to build awareness. Laurel wilt represents a serious challenge, but community involvement can make a difference in detecting and managing the spread before it becomes widespread.”
Mary Elizabeth Petrucha commented on a post in Huntington Matters Community Forum stating she has seen similarly infected trees on the property of Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station, “Is that what this is? Have seen it on the trees outside the mall between Lord and Taylor and California Pizza kitchen….many”. Huntington Matters will advise Management of the sighting.
UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research website says “The beetle was likely introduced in untreated wooden packing material, such as crates and pallets, imported through the shipment of goods from its native range in southeast Asia (e.g., India, Japan, Myanmar, and Taiwan).” In 2005, the beetle “was found associated with redbay (Persea borbonia) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) mortality in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.”
Cover image of a tree infested with Redbay Ambrosia Beetle Source: Image courtesy of Ronald F. Billings, Texas A&M Forest Service, Bugwood.org – University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extention.
