But healthy trees aren t off.
River birch tree borers.
Wood eating beetles do exactly as their name describes they eat away at the river birch betula nigra leaving behind a damaged and unhealthy tree.
A birch infested with bronze birch borer will start showing dieback in the crown increasing in severity as the infestation continues often leading to death of the tree.
Generally the bronze birch borer is the.
Attractive salmon pink to reddish brown bark exfoliates to reveal lighter inner bark.
Dark green foliage turns a beautiful buttery yellow in the fall.
In later stages of infestation the trunk will show d shaped rust stained exit holes.
The bronze birch borer typically attacks trees which are already stressed or in decline.
But as a landscape tree it can be planted almost anywhere in the u s.
Below learn how to identify tree borers and get info on treatment.
Usually native borers like the bronze birch borer seek out trees that are already stressed i e by drought disease or maybe a pruning injury.
Early warning signs of damage are a yellowing and thinning of foliage at the upper crown of the tree and d shaped holes in the trunk where the borer larvae have made entry.
The species is valued for its relatively rapid growth tolerance of wetness and some drought unique curling bark spreading limbs and relative resistance to birch borer.
The river birch has not yet reached the popularity of many maples and oaks but it is well on its way.
River birch is a popular fast growing native tree for the home landscape.