Pecan Tree Damage?

[two_bit_score]

Ok, TBN brain trust, I need some advice.

What does this to pecan trees and how can it be treated?

.


Thanks!

 

[MossRoad]

Looks like somebody cut the branches. I'd shoot them.

 

[MossRoad]

Are you talking about the mildewy looking marks on the bark?

 

[two_bit_score]

Are you talking about the mildewy looking marks on the bark?

You’re right that they look cut. Looks like they were chewed by something. The mildew looking stuff on that one branch picture is dirt.

I haven’t seen any worms in the tree or webs.

 

[two_bit_score]

Are you talking about the mildewy looking marks on the bark?

The bark seems ok to me and looks the same on another tree I have across town that has not been having the cut/chewed branches.

 

[MossRoad]

So something actually chewed the branches off like that? I thought they were cut or snapped by you.

Never seen anything like that.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Looks like someone went around with a knife evenly, then snapped center.
Kids or someone messing with you?
Were they on ground like that? I can't see an insect or animal doing that.

 

[MossRoad]

Look up "twig girdler beetle".

 

[MossRoad]

twig girdler beetle - Google Search

 

[MossRoad]

BTW, I'm not a fountain of knowledge. I'm just curious by nature and enjoy looking stuff up to learn new things....

I found that by googling "small branches falling off pecan tree" and that was the first thing that came up.

Hopefully, that's your pest. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

Twig Girdler

 

[dieselscout80]

Burn/dispose the pieces that fall as that is where the next year’s tree girders are at.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I have seen those, but did not know what they do. And I have seen twigs chewed off like that. Thanks for posting.

Here in South Texas, late January or early February is a good time to trim back pecan trees.

 

[two_bit_score]

twig girdler beetle - Google Search

I definitely believe you solved the mystery! Thank you! That seems to be exactly what has been getting the branches. I’ve actually seen some fall from high up in the tree and immediately went over and picked them up.

I threw them in the trash. I’ve never seen insects like that around the yard or in the tree.

I thought the tree was pretty healthy but one article says they attack a dying section of a tree. Maybe the tree is diseased.

Thanks Again!!!

 

[two_bit_score]

Burn/dispose the pieces that fall as that is where the next year’s tree girders are at.

They have been going in the trash and picked up by the city with household garbage.

I would hate to lose this pecan tree although squirrels usually get the pecans before we ever do.

 

[two_bit_score]

I have seen those, but did not know what they do. And I have seen twigs chewed off like that. Thanks for posting.

Here in South Texas, late January or early February is a good time to trim back pecan trees.

Do you know of a treatment to kill the beetles? Or is pruning all you can do?

 

[two_bit_score]

Looks like someone went around with a knife evenly, then snapped center.
Kids or someone messing with you?
Were they on ground like that? I can't see an insect or animal doing that.

I was as confounded as that also when I first started seeing the branches. I kind of ignored it for awhile but stared seeing more and more so that’s when I decided to call on the TBN brain trust!

 

[4570Man]

I used to have that happen to hickory trees. They looked like that they’d been cut by one of those roll around pipe cutters.

 

[two_bit_score]

I used to have that happen to hickory trees. They looked like that they’d been cut by one of those roll around pipe cutters.

That’s a good way of describing the damage. What happened to the trees you had the beetles in?

 

[4570Man]

That’s a good way of describing the damage. What happened to the trees you had the beetles in?

Nothing. They were mature trees and they didn’t cut that many limbs off.