White pine problems

[OasisTree]

I was called out to look at this tree the other day. Here is some pictures of what I found. Has anyone else come across anything like this? Take note of the wasps in the bottom picture. They are dead, and their stingers were stuck in the tree.

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[OasisTree]

Here is a link that I found as well, but it is not from the US.
http://mg.co.za/article/2015-04-16-biologists-blunt-the-sting-of-a-tree-killing-alien-wasp

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[JD3000]

Could be wood boring wasps, Sirex is on the invasive/introduced watch list.
Look into clearwing moth borer look alikes too though.
Sent samples to extension or a university entomologist for positive ID.
Please keep us posted on this one

 

[OasisTree]

The location is Central Missouri. I treated the trees with Arborjet's Tree-age, and Phosphojet.

I will go back for samples, as I am quite concerned about this. There were 3 trees in this group, and all of them had the hole patterns and these large black wasps on the trunk. 1 pine still looked good, and the other 2 looked really bad.

The client had the tree in the picture removed the day after I took the picture, and I treated the other 2.

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[OasisTree]

Here is another picture of a live wasp...

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[JD3000]

Absolutely get samples.

Is pine wilt in your area now? We have it in central ohio but Ive never seen holes sized and shaped like that in our pines
In the meantime, email this pics to a bug doc

 

[JD3000]

Seeing any pitch masses ?

 

[OasisTree]

Seeing any pitch masses ?

Not much, some pitch at the base of the tree. The info that I looked up on the sirex wood-boring wasp looks identical to what I am seeing.

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[JD3000]

Ugh.

 

[OasisTree]

Could be wood boring wasps, Sirex is on the invasive/introduced watch list.
Look into clearwing moth borer look alikes too though.
Sent samples to extension or a university entomologist for positive ID.
Please keep us posted on this one

Thanks for your help! Just sent pictures to our local conservation agent.

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[JD3000]

Coolio. Let us know!

 

[pcarborist]

It's sapsucker damage. Your pine is probably declining from vascular dysfunction.

 

[OasisTree]

I thought sapsucker holes were always in rows.

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[OasisTree]

Also, all of these holes were in the bottom 2 ft. of trunk.

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[pcarborist]

They are in a row.

 

[OasisTree]

They are in a row.

That is a vertical picture, not a horizontal one. And sapsucker holes are closer together, from what I have seen.

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[pcarborist]

Climb the tree, you'll find more. This has been going on for years.

 

[JD3000]

Wishful thinking perhaps. Oasis, were the holes symetric and in rows? If so then birds are in play

 

[OasisTree]

Wishful thinking perhaps. Oasis, were the holes symetric and in rows? If so then birds are in play

No, they were very scattered.

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[JD3000]

Still a chance of dirty birdies. Borers and bark beetles can bring in true woodpeckers too.
Do your due dilegence and let us know what comes about please