Tree Trunk Damage: Old Injury Leads to Ambrosia Beetles

A large front-yard tree showed extensive lower-trunk damage: numerous small holes, sawdust, and rot, yet the canopy remained leafy. The damage likely occurred years earlier—perhaps during construction when heavy equipment injured the bark or a trencher severed a major root. The tree never fully healed, and naturally occurring ambrosia beetles have since colonized the decaying wood.

A consulting arborist should assess the tree; removal may be recommended. Consulting Arborists.