Knowledgebase
Insect infestation in a red pine #753001
Asked May 30, 2021, 9:15 PM EDT
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
That damage is from a type of woodpecker called a sapsucker. Depending on where you are in Oregon the species vary....on the west side it is likely the red breasted sapsucker. Those small holes are called "sap wells" and are excavated by the sapsucker to draw sap. The woodpecker may eat the sap or insects attracted to the sap. This is pretty severe damage, so the sapsucker has been working this for a while. Here is a link from the PNW pest management handbook https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/pathogen-articles/nonpathogenic-phenomena/recognizing-sapsucker-damage-your-trees
Your best bet at control is to cover the damaged area with something, perhaps burlap or wire to prevent the bird from returning to the same place. See the link above. It is not legal to kill woodpeckers.
I'm not sure how related this would be to your yellowing needles. We usually don't think of this type of damage effecting the needles, but the damage is pretty severe.
Dear cklink123, here's the response to your question:
That damage is from a type of woodpecker called a sapsucker. Depending on where you are in Oregon the species vary....on the west side it is likely the red breasted sapsucker. Those small holes are called "sap wells" and are excavated by the sapsucker to draw sap. The woodpecker may eat the sap or insects attracted to the sap. This is pretty severe damage, so the sapsucker has been working this for a while. Here is a link from the PNW pest management handbook https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/pathogen-articles/nonpathogenic-phenomena/recognizing-sapsucker-damage-your-trees
Your best bet at control is to cover the damaged area with something, perhaps burlap or wire to prevent the bird from returning to the same place. See the link above. It is not legal to kill woodpeckers.
I'm not sure how related this would be to your yellowing needles. We usually don't think of this type of damage effecting the needles, but the damage is pretty severe.
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