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Borers
Borers
Borers are insects that bore into the bark of the tree and destroy the vascular tissue beneath the bark. Borers can cause significant damage and even death of a tree. By damaging the vascular tissue beneath the bark of the tree, the borer has limited the upward flow of water and nutrients to the canopy of the tree and the flow of photosynthesis sugars to the roots for storage.
There are many types of insect borers. Some insect borers can leave tunnels in the trunk or branches, weakening them so that they snap in high winds. Other borers can transmit diseases. Open wounds in the bark made by borers can be an entryway for disease.
Look for small bore holes in the bark of the tree, about the size of a pencil or smaller. Some borers even expel sawdust-like frass out of the exit holes.
Management Strategies
Management Strategies
Avoid stressing trees with proper watering and proper maintenance. Spray applications of insecticide treatments are not very effective as the borers are underneath the bark and protected from the spray. A systemic insecticide treatment can be more effective for control of boring insects if applications are made before extensive vascular system damage of the tree has occurred.
Read more about specific ornamental tree borers in UT Publication 547, "Common Tree Borers in Tennessee", which can be found here.
For chemical control recommendations, consult the Insect and Plant Disease Control Manual, UT Extension Publication 1690, found here. Please contact your local Extension office for specific pesticide recommendations.
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