Borer invasion!

[PaulH]

I collected this large Lodgepole pine about four years ago and its been losing branches one at a time from the top down. Today I carved a little and found the culprits.

 

[sorce]

Damn!

I hope you can recover!

Sorce

 

[fourteener]

Borers can be fun if they do their work and die before the tree does? My nursery man gave me some chemicals to take care of business.

 

[fore]

Wow Paul, I've seen one on a juni, but damn! Good luck with the tree!

 

[Paradox]

yeah, this is a good reminder of how important it is to be vigilant with our trees. New York DEC just documented the invasion of the southern pine borer in our state which could effect the species we use as bonsai.

 

[Cypress187]

Is this because of global warming maybe?

 

[wireme]

Is this because of global warming maybe?

Exceptionally cold winters do help reduce populations.
Bummer Paul, hope they damaged artistically.
Was chopping firewood for a friend yesterday, probably squashed a few hundred of the buggers!
They say the first chainsaw teeth were modeled after the chompers of pine sawyer beetle larvae.

 

[crust]

What chemicals are you going to treat the tree with?

 

[PaulH]

What chemicals are you going to treat the tree with?

I painted all the newly created deadwood with diazinon and will regularly apply Merit systemic granules during the growing season. I think the most effective thing is to try to find and remove all of the grubs manually.

 

[bonhe]

I just sprayed neem oil to all my tree this morning to avoid the borer!
Bonhe