There are welcomed insects and animals like bees and bats (they’re our pollinators!). We actively make our groves and fields welcoming to them.

Then there are the unwelcomed creatures. One set goes after the fruit, the other impacts the plant.

We’re now tackling the infestation of the ambrosia beetle, an insect that came over on a wooden pallet from SE Asia to South Carolina. With no natural predators, this insect thrives in our climate while depositing a killing fungus into avocado trees.

Called laurel wilt, this fungus prevents water from coming up from the tree’s roots. An avocado tree browning at the top is a sign that the beetle was there. The tree must be quickly removed or else other trees in the grove will be impacted. Brooks has found very healthy well-trimmed trees is the best guard against the disease. We don’t know if that’s stopped the beetle or if they’ll return to our trees after decimating less than healthy trees.

Other pests, like the Mediterranean Fruit fly, requires an area to be quarantined. No box of produce (strawberries, tomatoes, zucchini, or one of our tropicals) should transport such a pest to take up home in a new locale.