Laurel wilt and the redbay ambrosia beetle threaten sassafras and spicebush in Tennessee and Kentucky

First found in the U.S. in 2002 in Savannah, Georgia, laurel wilt, Raffaelea lauricola, has attacked and killed millions of plants in the laurel family.  In July 2019, sassafras trees were reported dying from laurel wilt in the Fort Campbell area of Tennessee and Kentucky.  The pathogen is spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus.  Laurel wilt has been found in Montgomery, Cheatham, Dickson, Williamson, and Robertson Counties of Middle Tennessee and Hamblin County in East Tennessee.  It has been found in Christian, Todd and Logan Counties of southwestern Kentucky.  This is the furthest inland movement by this disease and pest.  Extensive death of sassafras has been documented on the farms where it has been found.  Spicebush is another susceptible host of concern.   The spicebush swallowtail, Papilio troilus L., uses spicebush and sassafras as a larval host in Tennessee and Kentucky.  Extension personnel have been educating landowners on how to recognize this disease and vector.