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Sunset Maple Sudden Death: Termites, Carpenter Ants, Spider Mites

Three-year-old sunset maples suddenly shriveling with reddish leaves were found to have termites, carpenter ants, and spider mites in decaying wood—not a primary disease.

What This Means

Insects invaded already-stressed or dying wood.
Termites/ants in tree ≠ in house. But inspect house as precaution.
Carpenter ants nest in unpainted, moist wood. Remove wood contact.
Spider mites: treat only where foliage damaged.

Action

Treat tree foliage for mites. Have home inspected for termites. Remove dead wood near structures to deter ants.

Plant Diseases: Sudden Oak Death Crisis: Phytophthora ramorum Management in Coast Live Oaks; Red Sunset Maple Leaves Turning Brown: Causes and Solutions; Mushrooms at Maple Tree Base: Harmless or Hazard?; Autumn Blaze Maple in Amarillo: Checking Viability; Japanese Maple Leaf Scorch and Color Change: Environmental, Not Disease; Red Sunset Maple Top Leaf Drop: Root System Lag; Troubleshooting a Struggling Sunset Maple: Water, Nutrients, and Herbicide Risks; Red Sunset Maple Raised Red Spots: Insect Galls; Maple Trunk White Spots: Harmless Lichens; Maple Tree Adventitious Growth: Stress Signals and Arborist Evaluation

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