Regulatory Concern: Diseases & Pests

Citrus Greening

Citrus Greening (also known as CG, Huanglongbing or HLB) is caused by the pathogen ' Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'.  In 2005, this disease was detected in Florida. In 2009, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) / Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) confirmed Citrus Greening in a leaf sample from a residential property in Charleston, South Carolina.  This was the first confirmation of CG in South Carolina. It has now been detected in Beaufort, Charleston and Colleton counties.

Boxwood Blight

Boxwood Blight, a new disease of boxwood ( Buxus species), was detected in Virginia, North Carolina and many other states in 2011. This disease is caused by the fungus Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum. Infected boxwoods in both nurseries and landscapes exhibit leaf spots, black stem cankers, defoliation and death. It has been detected in South Carolina in Florence County. If boxwoods on your property have similar symptoms, contact the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic or your local Department of Plant Industry Inspector immediately.  Before sending samples, make sure your shrubs are indeed boxwoods and not Japanese hollies.

Laurel Wilt

This is a vascular wilt disease of red bay ( Persea borbonia) vectored, or spread, by an Asian ambrosia beetle. The epidemic first started in 2003, and since then much of our native red bay has been killed by this disease. It has been detected in about half of the counties in South Carolina, in the midlands and coastal areas. For more information on Laurel Wilt, refer to The Nature Conservancy's 'Don't Move Firewood' website by clicking here .