https://homeguides.sfgate.com/dogwood-tree-bark-disease-49082.html Bark damage or cuts near the base of the trunk are often caused by lawn equipment damage, such as from lawn mowers or string trimmer hitting the trunk. Spraying during the dormant season also lessens the impact on beneficial insects that are present during the spring and summer. This beetle has yellow/tan wing covers with a black line down the center and along the margins. Bark Beetle Damage by Dustin Blakey / CC by 2.0. On dogwood, it can be a serious problem on young trees that are planted too deeply and on stressed, older trees. Heavy infestations of this scale may cause yellowing, wilting and eventually branch dieback. Selecting a tree appropriate for your site, planting it correctly, and providing regular care are essential steps to prevent common pest problems of dogwoods. 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. District of Columbia, No pruning paint or sealer is recommended as it can interfere with the healing process. Weidhass, VA Polytech Inst & State Univ, Bugwood.org 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. 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. As the larva tunnels, the twig may break off or wilt behind it. Dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula)- is the most serious insect pest of dogwoods. Certain trees are more susceptible to bark browsing, especially those with tender, moist foliage. Heavy infestations may cause leaf yellowing, stunting, and dieback. Ask an Expert is made up of groups and individual experts. Photo: Bruce Watt, University of Maine, Bugwood.org. 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 cottony maple scale is easiest to find in May and June. There may be one or two generations a year. Watch for opportunistic insects and diseases. Some of the twigs may be dead above the gall, and the tree may be deformed. There are two distinctive black dots just behind the head. Dogwoods are native ornamental trees. Photo: Kansas Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org. They are found throughout the area where flowering dogwoods are grown. Most attacks occur around basal wounds caused by lawn mowers and string trimmers. Management is seldom needed, but if desired, wear gloves and manually remove and discard the larvae. Now that your dogwood is planted, it’s important to protect it while you wait for it to mature. These mature larvae will wander about in search of an overwintering site, generally in soft or decaying wood. There is one generation each year. Dogwood Twig Borer (Oberea tripunctata) Larva. The dogwood borer is the major pest of dogwood. Edited and revised by Christa K. Carignan, Coordinator, University of Maryland Extension, 12/ 2019. 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)]. Cottony Maple Scale (Pulvinaria innumerabilis). The dogwood tree is damaged by the feeding activity of the dogwood borer larva under the bark of the trunk and limbs. The larvae bore into the tree and feed in the phloem (tissues that move plant foods produced by leaves) and outer sapwood. If an infestation is heavy, particularly on a young plant, the larvae may be sprayed with horticultural oil registered for landscape use. Larvae are called flatheaded borers because of the enlarged, flattened area behind the small, black head. During this time, ¼ inch long white ovisacs may be found on branches and twigs. Wounds of this size need to be treated as soon as possible and should be watched carefully. Other symptoms include sawdust-like frass being pushed out of the burrows, and leaves turning red prematurely. After their final molt, they lose the powdery covering and change color. ), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior), flowering cherries (Prunus spp. New growth will often come in spring, but then suddenly die as the roots starve. Dogwood anthracnose canker This is a serious fungal disease of dogwoods that is prevalent in states east of Missouri. New growth is covered with a fine, white, powdery coating, typically on the upper surfaces of the leaves. Damage to the trunk of dogwoods by “bumping” with lawn mowers invites invasion by dogwood borers. The adults may be seen running over the bark of trees and fly when disturbed. Maintaining good tree health is the best way to prevent flatheaded appletree borer. Prune out and destroy the galls in summer before the maggots drop to the ground to pupate in the fall. The adult beetle emerges from infested twigs in the spring and the female lays her eggs in healthy twigs. The most satisfactory way to protect the trunk from lawn mower damage is to drive three metal stakes into the ground about 6 … ... Holes allow for good air circulation which will also help the damaged part heal. Crawlers hatch in June and settle on leaves to feed. Photo: James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org. If the tree bark damage goes from 25 percent to 50 percent, the tree will suffer some damage but most likely will survive. Infected leaves exhibit marginal leaf scorch, dead patches, reddish discoloration, yellowing and premature defoliation. Symptoms on dogwoods may also be caused by diseases or abiotic (environmental) factors. Most flower and fruit, and have dazzling fall displays as the leaves change color. Heavy infestation can kill the plant. This insect usually does not cause serious problems. There are several scale insects, such as calico scale, cottony maple scale, and oystershell scale, that can become pests on dogwood. Export, Pe. This insect usually does not cause serious problems. After the second molt, the larvae become covered with a white powdery material. Prune out heavily infested branches. The tree belongs to the bean family. The first evidence of the presence of the clubgall midge may be a wilted, deformed leaf. Damage to trees and shrubs caused by mammals and birds is fairly easy to identify. This inhibits the flow of the sap and slows the growth of the plant. Calico Scale (Eulecanium cerasorum), females. This should be done after wilting occurs and before adult emergence in the spring. REC, Dogwood Insect Pests: Identification and Management, Flowering Dogwood Trees: Selection, Care, and Management of Disease Problems, Why Are Leyland Cypress Trees Turning Brown, Azaleas and Rhododendrons: Common Diseases and Abiotic Problems, Boxwood: Preventing and Managing Common Pests and Diseases, Diagnosing Problems of Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Ornamental Fruit Trees: Preventing, Diagnosing, and Managing Problems. Ovisacs are white, cottony masses that contain eggs. As they grow, they will eat all of the leaf except the midrib. 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 is an armored scale and, unlike the cottony maple and calico scales, it does not produce honeydew. They are about the size of a pinhead and light-colored. They are found on twigs and branches. A dormant oil spray may be applied in late winter. Click HERE for more photos of tree damage. Other types of observed and reported tree damage Kousa dogwood (C. kousa) and hybrids of kousa and native dogwood (C. florida) are resistant to anthracnose and decline and should be used to replace dying trees. This is especially true for various borers (i.e. Dogwood Sawfly (Macremphytus tarsatus) larvae. By Mary Kay Malinoski, Principal Agent, University of Maryland Extension. It most frequently attacks trees that are stressed or injured. Infested parts appear swollen, knotty, calloused or gall-like. Young trees are frequently killed, and older ones are reduced in vitality, often leading to death. 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. They move onto the bark to overwinter. Vole damage . Central Maryland Sloughing of wood bark is an early symptom of attack. Dogwood trees are damaged by the feeding activity of the dogwood borer larva under the bark of the trunk and limbs. Larger trees with ongoing infestations often develop rough, knotty areas on the trunk and large branches, and may lack vigor. I definitely will put a barrier around it to keep it protected from another critter attack.I have called around to different tree nurseries and getting different answers -- either leave it alone or spray it to seal it. Photo: Terry S. Price, Georgia Forestry Commission, Bugwood.org, The dogwood twig borer is a less serious pest of dogwood. They will be found where honeydew and/or sooty mold (a fungus that grows on honeydew) are present. Upon hatching, the young caterpillar finds a suitable place to enter the tree such as a wound, scar, woody gall, or branch crotch. Oysershell Scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi). The larvae of the borer enter the tree through openings in the bark and feed on the cambium layer of the tree. A light infestation will cause little harm, but a heavy infestation can stunt a tree. Depending on the age of the Kousa dogwood, the trees take on a different appearance. It would be appropriate for you to remove a small portion of the bark and inspect for entry/exit holes indicative of boring insects. Adults appear in summer and feed on the foliage of host trees. Sometimes referred to as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian cousin to our native flowering dogwood can be used as a specimen plant or in shrub borders. Photo: David Laughlin, Horticultural Student, Bugwood.org. Larvae of this insect feed underneath the bark, and can kill the tree. There is one generation each year. Refer to our pages on c. We embody the University's land-grant mission with a commitment to eliminate hunger, preserve our natural resources, improve quality of life, and empower the next generation through world-class education. Photo: Terry S. Price, Georgia Forestry Commission, Bugwood.org. Peeling bark on the trunk or near the base of branches is usually caused by borer infestation. Apply a fungicide during bud break to protect new flowers, twigs, and foliage. These insects attach themselves to branches or leaves where they suck juices from the tree. They do not settle on the leaves but stay to feed on the twigs and branches. Feeding is mostly confined to the burr knot but once the burr knot area is consumed, it moves to the adjacent areas. It is much easier to spray the trees for all of the scale insects listed in late winter to control the overwintering scales. 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. Perennials. Photo: John A. Davidson, University of Maryland, Bugwood.org. Adult sawflies, which resemble tiny wasps, emerge during late spring and early summer. You don’t want to allow bugs to enter through wounds in the bark and damage the tree. 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. Dogwood clubgall midge – Club- or spindle-shaped galls appear near the growing tips of dogwood twigs. The galled twigs and terminals die prematurely and flowering is reduced. The full-grown caterpillar is white with a pale brown head, and about 5/8 inch long. Yesterday I found bark damage on my 15 year old dogwood -- from bottom of tree extending about 8 inches high , 2 to 3 inches across -- bark scraped or torn off. 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. 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 … The adult is an elongate (5/8 inch long) beetle with long antennae. There are two distinctive black dots just behind the head. Knowing the species of your tree is crucial to deciding if a dogwood with peeling bark is in danger or if it is a normal occurrence. aboveground vegetation is damaged or destroyed by fire. Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org. Bark sloughing around wound on dogwood (Cornus) typical of damage from dogwood borer (Lepidoptera).J.A. They are large (1/4 inch long), black and white-spotted and swollen. 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. Look for the crawlers near the old scale covers. The best prevention for this insect is to protect the trees from wounds. The bark, which is the primary source of therapeutic benefits, has an acrid and bitter taste that causes a burning sensation in the mouth. Protect the health of your dogwood tree by not damaging the bark. There is only one generation each year, with the larva overwintering inside the twig. By mid-June, they die, shrivel, and turn brown. They lay eggs under bark plates or in bark crevices on the main trunk or larger branches. 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