I've seen this type of damage on trees and assumed it was related to constriction as a sapling by encircling vines, because my favorite Kentucky walking stick is in fact "vine-curled":
But the image embedded at the top, from the marijuanaenthusiasts subreddit, has a totally different pathogenesis.
A common cause of tree damage in backyards and small woodlands is from sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus spp.), which are a species of woodpecker... Sapsucker damage is easy to identify. The holes are approximately .25 inch in diameter and are drilled (pecked) in horizontal and vertical rows. There are usually many holes close together. This is often mistaken for insect damage such as that by bark beetles or other boring insects. Insect damage will typically have fewer, smaller holes, and the holes will be randomly distributed, not in rows like sapsucker holes. Insect holes may also have some boring dust (frass) in or on the ground under them, whereas sapsucker holes will not.
You learn something every day. And I also learned this:
The presence of sapsucker damage does not necessarily mean the tree has an insect infestation. Unlike other woodpeckers, sapsuckers are actually drilling for the tree sap, not for insects living in the tree. However, sapsucker damage may attract opportunistic damaging insects, which the sapsucker may then subsequently feed on.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker info page.
Here, in Rhode Island, I have seen that curl around the trunk cause by bittersweet vines that wrap around the trunk as the vine grows upwards. If left unchecked, the vine will overwhelm the tree, covering it with a blanket of itself. About as bad as Virginia Creeper.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid, I recall seeing sapsucker drills in aspens - soft bark. And a couple of days ago, I saw some drills near the base of a mature maple tree - that was a surprise as they were very low, and, maple bark is pretty tough.
ReplyDeleteI saw that post on r/marijuanaenthusiasts and just kept on scrolling, assuming it was vine damage. Thanks for taking a look. I subscribe to r/tree, as well, but the proliferation of 'what is this tree' posts is frustrating, followed by 'what is wrong with my tree'.
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