ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 7, 2023) ~ The Maryland Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) and its associated nematode, Litylenchus crenatae maccannii, in Harford County. BLD is a new disease that affects all beech species, including American beech (Fagus grandifolia). It has been found in surrounding states such as Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.

Symptoms of BLD include dark banding or striping between the leaf veins. Trees with severe symptoms are heavily banded with yellowing, shrunken and thickened leaves. The disease can kill understory trees in two years and mature trees in six to ten years. Treatments for BLD are currently being researched.

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Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks praised the department's Forest Pest team for their quick action on identifying this disease. He said that the team will continue to monitor and report the spread of BLD as it occurs and encouraged homeowners to do the same.

To report symptoms of BLD data can be entered on the Tree Health Survey app or reported by email to fpm.mda@maryland.gov. For additional information visit the UMD Extension Website at: https://bit.ly/3Eny7eO . Additional counties are being tested for presence of BLD and its nematode while permanent survey plots have been set up across Maryland since 2019.

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