Beech Leaf Disease Detected For First Time On Nantucket

Beech leaf disease has been detected for the first time in Nantucket's forests.

Staff from the Nantucket Conservation Foundation's ecology team detected the first instances of the disease earlier this month at the organization's Squam Swamp property.

Beech leaf disease primarily affects the American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), however, it can also affect European, Oriental, and Chinese Beech species as well. The disease is caused by tiny nematodes which infest the buds and leaves of a tree, thinning the canopy cover rapidly, and ultimately killing a tree within two to seven years.

"NCF will monitor affected trees and manage them around trails to ensure public safety," the non-profit stated last week. "Unfortunately, no large-scale management treatments currently exist for beech leaf disease. We had hoped that the island’s isolation would protect our beech trees longer, but now that it is established, we can only track the spread of the disease."

Beech Lead Disease can be identified by dark stripes appearing on leaves, or heavily striped, shrunken, and crinkled leaves with a thickened, leathery texture.

Homeowners who find evidence of the disease in trees on their property should contact a local tree expert to find out what can be done on a small scale in landscape plantings. Some options include destroying infected plant material after removal and possible chemical treatments for individual trees.