Are there other ambrosia beetles that attack redbay?
Yes. Examination of redbay trees killed by laurel wilt has shown that several other species of ambrosia beetles colonize the stems. These other beetles do not contribute to the death of the tree, but rather come to reproduce and cultivate their own associated fungi (upon which they feed) in the dead wood. Like the redbay ambrosia beetle, these other ambrosia beetle species often produce toothpick-like tubes or piles of fine sawdust on the bark as they bore into the tree. An ambrosia beetle called the black twig borer commonly bores into small diameter twigs and branches of redbay and other trees, causing a “flagging” effect in the crown (isolated death of small branches). The damage caused by laurel wilt is much more extensive (major branches or entire crown wilting) than that caused by the black twig borer alone.
