Beech Leaf Disease found in Vermont

July 31, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Symptoms of beech leaf disease on American beech: Dark banding on leaves indicates the presence of the causal nematode. VT Forests, Parks & Recreation photo by Julia Pupko

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has announced that Beech Leaf Disease – a new disease affecting beech trees – has been detected in four Vermont counties: Bennington, Chittenden, Windham, and Windsor and the public is asked to help spot it elsewhere. 

This phenomenon has only recently been discovered, so much about the disease remains unknown, including the full cause and how it spreads. 

The department asks for help from the public to report symptomatic trees in order to advance the understanding of the disease which “can have catastrophic effects on forest ecosystems,” according to its announcement. 

So far, scientists know that Beech Leaf Disease is caused by an invasive worm-like nematode (Litylenchus creatae mccannii) and it affects buds and foliage of all species of beech trees, leading to leaf striping and loss as well as reduced leaf and bud production. While beech trees of all ages and sizes are susceptible to the disease, younger understory beech trees are thought to be more vulnerable, state forestry officials explain. 

Beech trees are one of Vermont's five most common tree species, providing important food and nesting sites for wildlife and playing a key role in Vermont’s forests. “The potential loss threatens to disrupt forest ecosystems and biodiversity,” state officials said. 

First detected in 2012 in Ohio, Beech Leaf Disease has spread rapidly across the Northeast U.S. and Canada. Researchers exploring management options say many questions remain unanswered. “We do not know how BLD is spreading across the landscape,” said Savannah Ferreira, a Vermont state forest health specialist. “This makes it harder to predict its spread compared to other invasive pests.”

To detect Beech Leaf Disease, forestry experts say to look for dark striping between leaf veins with the darkened area being slightly raised and thicker than normal leaf tissues, along with crispy empty buds. As the disease advances, leaves will become stripped, yellow, curled and shriveled, leading to premature leaf drop, death of branches, and full tree mortality.

Ferreira urges Vermonters who think they’ve seen Beech Leaf Disease – particularly in an unconfirmed area the state –  to pease report it.

Confirmed detections are tracked on the Vermont Forest Invasive Pest Map. To report potential cases of Beech Leaf Disease, submit photos and details through the Report It! link on the Vermont Invasives website. The site has more information about Beech Leaf Disease.