Tree infested with Borer Insects? Is there a remedy? - Ask Extension
Hello. I am hoping you can help me with a tree problem I have.
Over the last few months I have noticed balls of sap coming from the base of a tr...
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Tree infested with Borer Insects? Is there a remedy? #813394
Asked October 06, 2022, 12:26 PM EDT
Hello. I am hoping you can help me with a tree problem I have.
Over the last few months I have noticed balls of sap coming from the base of a tree in our backyard. I didn't think anything of it until I saw them increasing by the week. (Attached are the pictures of the sap at base of the tree and full view of the tree).
I have talked with a few people and I receive various answers. One believed it was an Ash tree and it needs to come down, others said its common and the tree will remedy itself. From my perspective and research it seems the trees is infested with borer beetles.
Can you confirm? Is there a remedy? Is there no hope and the tree will eventually die?
Thank you.
Livingston County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Brandon,
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
From the bark pattern and leaves, the tree looks to be a black cherry (Prunus serotina).
If the droplet of sap has sawdust in it, and is originating from a small hole then this could be due to the peach tree borer. You can read more about the peach tree borer at the link below:
https://extension.psu.edu/tree-fruit-insect-pest-peachtree-borer
If the sap is free of sawdust, and the concentration of droplets extend further than one foot up the trunk of the tree, it may be a canker disease. If you suspect a canker, gently try scraping off some of the bark beneath the oozing sap; if it comes off with little effort (don't try too hard!) and the bark is rotted, then this is the result of a canker, which is a fungal or bacterial infection of the trunk. Again, I stress that scraping the bark too hard will result in creating an injury worse than the symptom. Use care to determine if the bark beneath the sap is rotted. Also be sure to clean the tool used to ensure any fungal or bacterial infection is not transferred to another tree.
Cankers are difficult to treat. Below is a link to an article that describes cankers, and what, if anything, can be done.
https://extension.psu.edu/cankers-of-hardwood-deciduous-trees
You may also wish to hire an arborist to come take a look. You can find a certified arborist using the link below:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
With hopes this helps. Feel free to stay in contact about what you find.
Thank you,
-Julie
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
From the bark pattern and leaves, the tree looks to be a black cherry (Prunus serotina).
If the droplet of sap has sawdust in it, and is originating from a small hole then this could be due to the peach tree borer. You can read more about the peach tree borer at the link below:
https://extension.psu.edu/tree-fruit-insect-pest-peachtree-borer
If the sap is free of sawdust, and the concentration of droplets extend further than one foot up the trunk of the tree, it may be a canker disease. If you suspect a canker, gently try scraping off some of the bark beneath the oozing sap; if it comes off with little effort (don't try too hard!) and the bark is rotted, then this is the result of a canker, which is a fungal or bacterial infection of the trunk. Again, I stress that scraping the bark too hard will result in creating an injury worse than the symptom. Use care to determine if the bark beneath the sap is rotted. Also be sure to clean the tool used to ensure any fungal or bacterial infection is not transferred to another tree.
Cankers are difficult to treat. Below is a link to an article that describes cankers, and what, if anything, can be done.
https://extension.psu.edu/cankers-of-hardwood-deciduous-trees
You may also wish to hire an arborist to come take a look. You can find a certified arborist using the link below:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
With hopes this helps. Feel free to stay in contact about what you find.
Thank you,
-Julie
HI Julie,
Thank you for the quick response.
I went out to the tree to try and remove some of the bark without much effort and wasn't able to. I also noticed the sawdust you mentioned. Seems to be the peach tree borer insect. I also maybe noticed some of the adult insects, which I originally thought we bees. I'm afraid it's too late for the tree. The sap goes about 8-10ft up the tree around the whole trunk.
I also have been noticing loose soil around the tree. Not sure if this is rodents/moles or the tree root system starting to weaken.
Another note, the top of the tree seems to still be healthy without any branch loss.
Thanks again.
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
I did find this article on the peach tree borer from Colorado:
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05566.pdf
In the article, it mentions that when adults are able to be seen, they are usually laying eggs. An insecticide bark treatment may be useful in killing the larva that hatch from the eggs and begin to bore into the tree (would be a contact insecticide). Once they bore into the tree, there is no insecticide that will affect them.
Also of note, is the fact that the larvae emerge from the soil, shed their exoskeleton, and fly away as the wasp-like borer. Could they borers have disturbed the soil? Do you find "pupal skins" as pictured in the article (page 2, bottom middle photo)?
If the tree is not a hazard to life or structure, perhaps it is worth insecticidal treatment? At the very least, I would recommend preventatively treating it's neighbor if that tree is currently unaffected.
Thank you,
-Julie
I did find this article on the peach tree borer from Colorado:
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05566.pdf
In the article, it mentions that when adults are able to be seen, they are usually laying eggs. An insecticide bark treatment may be useful in killing the larva that hatch from the eggs and begin to bore into the tree (would be a contact insecticide). Once they bore into the tree, there is no insecticide that will affect them.
Also of note, is the fact that the larvae emerge from the soil, shed their exoskeleton, and fly away as the wasp-like borer. Could they borers have disturbed the soil? Do you find "pupal skins" as pictured in the article (page 2, bottom middle photo)?
If the tree is not a hazard to life or structure, perhaps it is worth insecticidal treatment? At the very least, I would recommend preventatively treating it's neighbor if that tree is currently unaffected.
Thank you,
-Julie
