Invasive Worm Causes Beech Leaf Disease in Vermont for the First Time

Invasive Nematode from Japan Confirmed in Vermont, No Known Cure for Disease That Rapidly Kills Young Beech Trees

The beech leaf disease, caused by an invasive worm, was confirmed in Vermont for the first time with the earliest cases discovered in Vernon.
The invasive nematode, the cause, is native to Japan and is known to cause leaf deformation, dieback and mortality in bee species.
Previously, this disease has been reported across 14 states in the US and Ontario, Canada. Maryland and New Hampshire also reported cases this year and in the last year respectively.
There is currently no known cure for the disease and it's not clear how it spreads, heightening the concern for more widespread infestations.
Early symptoms of the disease include the development of a thick striping pattern between the veins of the leaves, which over time results in deformation and premature drop of leaves. Younger trees are particularly susceptible and the disease spreads with alarming speed among them.