From our neighbor, Cecily Ryan

If so, important information you need to know

Many of you will have noticed the increasing numbers of dead redbay trees along Kingwood Drive, particularly between the high school and Woodland Hills.  I had several dying trees in my yard and researching it led me to the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle which carries a fungus deadly to redbay trees.

Long story short, I asked Mickey Merritt the Forestry Service Community Forester to come and look.  He came out and was amazed by the sheer numbers involved.  A week later he came back with the Forest Entomologist based in Austin, samples were taken, and it has been confirmed as laurel wilt (Raffaelea lauricola) a fungus carried by the redbay ambrosia beetle.  I now have the dubious honour of having the first recorded cases in Harris County!
Laurel wilt is fatal to redbays.  A single beetle can and will infect a whole tree The beetles carry the fungus and as soon as they burrow into a tree it will be infected.  Laurel wilt can cross into sassafras trees and avocados.  It arrived in the US in Georgia probably from the far east (pallets are suspected).  A billion redbay trees are estimated to have been killed by it.  There is no cure.  I have had 15 trees affected so far and expect to lose the rest of my redbays.  There is no quarantine regarding disposing the infected wood, but homeowners should be mindful of spreading this fatal disease.  I have kept the felled trees on my property as I want to minimize the spread.

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