First, it was spotted laternflies. Now, it's a highly invasive disease that could be affecting trees at neighborhood parks, college campuses, and nature parks all across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Swackhammer says beech leaf disease is caused by a tiny microscopic round worm called a nematode. The nematodes infest the beech tree leaves and eventually take over the entire growth until the leaves curl and fall off, a process that retired horticulturist, Rudy Keller, says is dramatic and noticeable once the tree is infected.
"It's pretty dramatic if you hold the young leaf up to the light," said Keller as he examined infected beech leaves. "There are alternate light and dark areas and the dark areas contain the disease." FOX 29's Dawn Timmeney walked down a trail at the conservation area alongside Swackhammer and Keller, only to be saddened by the devastation the disease has caused.
"If a tree doesn't have leaves. It can't photosynthesize," said Swackhammer. "It really can't tolerate it very long until it uses up all its energy and dies." Experts are also warning that it's not just beech trees in nature preserves that are dying. European beech trees, which can be found right on college campuses, like Kutztown University in Berks County, are also being threatened. "We always hope there's some sort of natural enemy or bilogical control that will start acting on the disease, but we haven't seen evidence of that, but Mother Nature sometimes helps us with that, said Swackhammer.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Everything you need to know about weed in Pennsylvania and New JerseyWe’ve been breaking down the rules around marijuana in the Philly region. Here are some useful resources about what is legal when it comes to pot.
Read more »
Man gets 43 years in kidnapping of ex-girlfriend that led to multi-state crime spreeThe violence occurred in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in June 2014.
Read more »
Supreme Court rules New Jersey can't be hostage to decades-old compact with New YorkThe Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of New Jersey on Tuesday, saying the state can unilaterally withdraw from a decades-old agreement surrounding New York Harbor.
Read more »
Supreme Court rules New Jersey can't be hostage to decades-old compact with New YorkSCOTUS ruled unanimously in favor of New Jersey saying the state can unilaterally withdraw from a decades-old agreement surrounding New York Harbor. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that a ruling for NY would have allowed it to hold NJ hostage.
Read more »
CBS New York Book Club with Mary Calvi reveals next round of book optionsIt's time for you to vote on which book our Book Club with MaryCalviTV will read next! Find excerpts and more info about each fic pick here: ClubCalvi
Read more »