Small, wet areas on the bark, dead branches, adventitious growth (water sprouts on trunk and large branches), or sloughing and cracking of bark can all be symptoms of dogwood borer attack. The yellowish larva that hatches from the egg begins tunneling in the pith, boring down the center of the twig, occasionally making a series of holes to the surface through which it expels sawdust. Other types of observed and reported tree damage The aboveground portions of flowering dogwood are readily damaged by fire because the thin bark allows fatal levels of heat to reach the cambium very quickly. The female moth lays her eggs on the bark of the tree and is particularly attracted to injured bark, scars, and other rough areas on the trunk. Symptoms on dogwoods may also be caused by diseases or abiotic (environmental) factors. Dogwood Borer. The dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula; DWB) is a small clearwing moth native to eastern North America.In its larval stage DWB infests the trunks and branches of apple, dogwood, pecan, elm, hickory, and willow. You must be signed in before you can post questions or answers. Wrapping the trunk, using duct tape, painting the wound, and nailing or using glue to keep the bark from peeling off any more is not going to help. If the tree bark damage goes less than 25 percent of the way around the tree, the tree will be fine and will survive without a problem, provided that the wound is treated and is not left open to disease. Cottony Maple Scale (Pulvinaria innumerabilis). Do I let it repair itself or put something over it? Frequently damaged species include crabapples (Malus spp. Photo: Bruce Watt, University of Maine, Bugwood.org. The Kousa dogwood is a handsome, small- to medium-sized tree reaching a mature height of 30 feet. The larvae bore into the tree and feed in the phloem (tissues that move plant foods produced by leaves) and outer sapwood. Adult sawflies, which resemble tiny wasps, emerge during late spring and early summer. After the second molt, the larvae become covered with a white powdery material. New growth is covered with a fine, white, powdery coating, typically on the upper surfaces of the leaves. The larvae may be found boring into the base of these trees. The adult midge is a small, delicate, brown fly. The dogwood borer is a pest which in its larval or caterpillar stage eats terminal shoots or burrows beneath the bark and destroys the healthy tissues. This insect usually does not cause serious problems. There is one generation each year. The first evidence of the presence of the clubgall midge may be a wilted, deformed leaf. American dogwood bark is still used today as medicine, but not very often. The disease, Discula destructiva, causes leaf, twig and branch dieback beginning in the lower part of the tree. The dogwood clubgall midge is responsible for spindle-shaped swellings near the tips of dogwood twigs. When a Dogwood with Peeling Bark is Normal. It is a good idea to site them where winter sun won't be aggressive or paint the trunk with latex paint thinned with water.Jan 23, 2017 Refer to our pages on common dogwood diseases, abiotic problems, and tree care. There is only one generation each year, with the larva overwintering inside the twig. Some of these trees will die as the weather becomes hot and dry. Larvae of this insect feed underneath the bark, and can kill the tree. The adult is an elongate (5/8 inch long) beetle with long antennae. Examine the undersides of leaves for the flat, yellow, immature scales along the leaf veins. Adult female scales are 3/16 inch long, black, flat, and oval. The larvae (young insects) resemble caterpillars and feed on the foliage of several species of dogwood and are most commonly seen on shrub dogwoods [e.g., silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), redosier dogwood (C. sericea)]. Cut enough scions to place them about 2 inches apart around the damaged area. It is essential that young trees receive adequate water during establishment. Female calico scale insects are very conspicuous in May. Photo: Kansas Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org. The dogwood tree is damaged by the feeding activity of the dogwood borer larva under the bark of the trunk and limbs. ... Holes allow for good air circulation which will also help the damaged part heal. Photo: James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org. Protect trees from drought stress, winter injury, and dogwood borer attack. This should be done after wilting occurs and before adult emergence in the spring. Watch for opportunistic insects and diseases. There may be one or two generations a year. Crawlers are present in May. Certain trees are more susceptible to bark browsing, especially those with tender, moist foliage. The adult beetle emerges from infested twigs in the spring and the female lays her eggs in healthy twigs.Flagging of a branch caused by Dogwood Twig Borer infestation. The bark, which is the primary source of therapeutic benefits, has an acrid and bitter taste that causes a burning sensation in the mouth. Photo: John A. Davidson, University of Maryland, Bugwood.org. To monitor for this pest, look for tiny (1/8 inch long), oystershell shaped, and brown to gray scale covers on the bark of wilting or dead branches. Keep the tree well watered during dry periods and make sure mulch is no thicker than several inches and keep away from the trunk. Apple trees grown on dwarf rootstocks are more prone to DWB infestation; therefore DWB has become a more common pest as many growers have transitioned to smaller trees. Calico scale and cottony maple scale are both soft scales and produce honeydew (a clear, sticky substance). Photo: James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Small, wet areas on the bark, dead branches, adventitious growth (water sprouts on trunk and large branches), or sloughing and cracking of bark can all be symptoms of dogwood borer ⦠Infested parts appear swollen, knotty, calloused or gall-like. Central Maryland The adults may be seen running over the bark of trees and fly when disturbed. Feeding is mostly confined to the burr knot but once the burr knot area is consumed, it moves to the adjacent areas. Other symptoms include sawdust-like frass being pushed out of the burrows, and leaves turning red prematurely. Signs of their presence include small holes in the trunk, shrunken or slightly distorted leaves and die-back of twigs and branches in the canopy of the tree, usually from the top of the crown moving downward. Dogwoods planted too deeply, inadequately watered during the first two years of establishment and drought periods, or physically wounded at the trunk (e.g., mower damage), are more susceptible to pest infestations. The adult midges emerge in May and the female deposits eggs in new terminal leaves. The galled twigs and terminals die prematurely and flowering is reduced. This insect usually does not cause serious problems. Export, Pe. Bark is completely removed from stems or in irregular patches; Damage occurs in winter and the bark is removed only below the snowline; Only bark is removed, no branches or small stems are cut off as in rabbit damage; Wood will show scrapings the size of fork tines The dogwood borer is the major pest of dogwood. The second most common type of damage was indirect defoliation associated with wood boring insects and vascular diseases such as oak wilt, white pine blister rust, dogwood anthracnose, and beech bark disease. 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