The beetle likely entered the country in solid wood packing material with cargo that was imported at Port Wentworth.
[7] The redbay (Persea borbonia), a tree particularly abundant in maritime forests of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, has been the primary species affected by the wilt.
The wilt fungus has also been isolated from dead and dying pondspice (Litsea aestivalis) and pondberry (Lindera melissaefolia), however the redbay ambrosia beetle has not been found in either of these species.
[11] In 2011, laurel wilt-infected trees were detected in Miami-Dade County, near areas of commercial avocado groves.
[6] Avocado groves in the area are being closely monitored for the presence of the redbay ambrosia beetle and incidence of laurel wilt disease [12] In a September 2008 study, a possible fungicide was tested.
[13]In 2011, the EPA granted a Section 18 Emergency Exemption allowing the use of Tilt (a formulation of propiconazole) on commercial avocado trees to prevent laurel wilt disease.