Pest Photo

Michael C. Thomas, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org

Redbay Ambrosia beetle

Xyleborus glabratus

Redbay Ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) is an insect pest of trees in the Lauraceae family. It is a native of Asia and was first detected in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in 2002.

This ambrosia beetle transmits laurel wilt (Raffaelea lauricola) which serves as a food source for the beetle and also causes infected plants to rapidly wilt and die. This is just one of many forest pests that are moved to un-infested forests by humans moving firewood. Help to protect our forests: don't move firewood!

For more information about this plant pest, see the CAPS data sheet and the CABI data sheet.
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