I was out trimming back the brush and limbs that seem to over take my driveway if I don’t keep them in check. Wasn’t so bad this last year because of the drought but the small stuff grew good and the trees either died or drooped some. Remember the picture I posted a few weeks back:
I started out where the trees begin and was working my way back to the house and when I made the turn toward my house I found a tree that was attacked by something. Now, I have heard of and seen the affects of pine beetles. They can wipe out acres and acres of pine trees. When trees get stressed by drought or some other unfavorable condition, the beetles have a better chance of getting a hold on them. I never heard of them attacking hardwood trees. This tree is not dead yet, but with so many holes in it, I can’t see it surviving:
This is not a small tree. I took this picture to give you some a better perspective of its size:
I am sure someone out there has seen this before and can tell me what it is and if it will spread. I would really appreciate it. As far as I know, it could be an invasion from very small space aliens in their very small flying saucers or maybe something really weird? What you think?
Guess what? It just started raining a little bit!! Halleluiah!! May dampen our flea market trip, but it will probably be over by then. It seems I can’t remember when we had a rain that lasted more than a few minutes. OK, what did I say, it has stopped raining already, dang!
You all have a great day now, you hear?
Man ,Those are some serious holes!! Not woodpecker holes are they? You might be best off calling your local County Extension Agent. ( http://county-tx.tamu.edu/) They usually are up to date on what is going on in the area. I have had them show up on occasion to do an exam. If they can't help, look for a local arborist and have them take a look.
ReplyDeleteThey do look like Woodpecker holes.. but with that many, I would think you would have heard the bugger!
ReplyDeleteHope you get it figured out,
Raella
The pictures don't show up on my computer so I can't say, but I had many kinds of woodpeckers when I lived in NC and some of the trees were very holey!
ReplyDeleteNever saw anything like that. Now i'm wanting to know too.
ReplyDeleteHave fun at ur flea market.
I 'wood' suspect woodpeckers by the way the holes run horizontal in lines. Have you checked surrounding trees for damage?
ReplyDeleteGoogle woodpecker holes....they look the same.
ReplyDeleteBen, I can’t believe it is woodpecker holes. If there is that many holes there must be an enormous amount of bugs under the bark for them to but a thousand or so holes in that tree.
ReplyDeleteRealla, we have woodpeckers, but most of them are the Pileated Woodpeckers and they are really loud. I think it is some kind of beetle.
Gypsy, I suppose it is possible. Now, why do the pictures not show up? Do you want me to send them attached to an email?
Trouble, if I find out, I will let you all know. It was raining off and on and there were not too many set up outside. All the outside tables are under roof, but fewer people set up on Saturday than on Sunday.
Billy Bob, they could be the considered suspect. The surrounding trees may have a hole or two but nothing like this one. It would take a whole case of buck-shot to do that to a tree.
I don't know about TX conditions, but I've got to agree with the woodpecker camp. They might be something else, but I've seen damage like that from our local hammer heads.
ReplyDeleteOf course, woodpeckers would only be doing that kind of damage if there were already bugs under the bark. I saw damage like that a few years after a massive ice storm. The trees got damaged and stressed, bugs moved in, and then our woodpecker population exploded.