Does My Tree Have Black Twig Borers?
Borer insects feed on the inner bark of your trees. They are about 1/16th inch long, round, and dark brown or black in appearance. They have been spotted most often in the southeastern states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida.
While the black twig borer is one of the very few ambrosia beetles that does not discriminate between healthy or unhealthy trees and plants, they do have a favored selection of target species including Flowering dogwood, Redbud, Red Maple, Magnolias, Willows, Live Oaks, Pecan, Grape, & Black Gum.
What are the symptoms of black twig borers?
Sawdust like material
Sap oozing from the holes
Swollen, callused bark
Foliage discoloration
Dying branches
How do I treat black twig borers?
Whenever a pest is suspected, we always recommend having a certified arborist come out to your property to asses the issue at hand. The best way to manage black twig borers otherwise, is to make sure you are taking care of your trees regularly. This includes fertilization, mulching, watering, pruning, etc. There are treatments used by certified arborist specifically for elimination of this pest if discarding infected areas does not suffice.
If you suspect pests are invading your trees, click the link below for more information on tree pest inspections with our certified arborists!