Pin Oak tree's with holes in trunk?

redharley · Mar 9, 2010

I have planted 10 pin oak trees on my property over the last several years.Some of the larger one's [3-4" trunks] have a hole or two bored in them about 4 to 6 ft of the ground.I can see that birds have been at the holes,but I do not think they made them.I know these holes were not there in the fall.Also in one of the holes it looks like pin head size white dots maybe egg;s in the hole.Could there have been an insect in these trees that has just emerged? Any thoughts or suggestions, Thanks Bill

dave1949 · Mar 10, 2010

If birds made the holes recently, you might find woodchips under the tree. If the hole is small like around an 1/8 inch and very regular, round or 'D' shaped, that could be an emerging insect. Little white eggs maybe, that sounds like ants or something.

It's a good observation.
Dave.

forgeblast · Mar 10, 2010

This worrys me a little bit, i will be planting 30 pin oaks this spring. How big are the trees?

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/foresthealth/pubs/oakpests/p23.html
talks about the pin oak borer

magicheater · Mar 10, 2010

found this and this. Around here we are schooled nut to cut oaks of any kind between April 15th and October 15th to prevent oak blight.

psj12 · Mar 10, 2010

I live in northern Maryland just south of you and had two large pin oaks killed by an infestation of Emerald Ash beetles. Yes, they like pin oaks also. A sure sign is small holes in the bark and lots of interest from wood peckers (thus larger holes).

redharley · Mar 10, 2010

The tree's are about 3-4" trunk dia. and 12ft high, I have done a little research as of the last 2 days and I am hoping it is the red oak borer,which doesn't seem to hurt the tree.Spray with seven hole should heal I am told. psj12 your Emerald Ash beetles theory may be a possibility as on my 7 acre's of woods most all of my Ash tree's have died some as large as 18-22" across the stump due this.I have never heard of them in Oak.I'll be checkiing for an answer as I have a lot of red oak also on my property.Things are going to look real bare if I lose the oaks also.That is why I started replanting with pin oaks. Thanks and keep the info coming