Rows of Holes in Holly Trunk: Sapsucker Woodpecker Damage and Management

Symptoms

A 30-year-old, 20–25 ft holly shows girdling rows of holes about 6 ft up the trunk. Holes are enlarging. Owner wonders if it's a woodpecker and whether to intervene.

Cause: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

The neatly spaced horizontal/vertical holes are classic sapsucker feeding. Sapsuckers drill holes to drink sap and eat insects attracted to it. They rarely kill trees directly but can weaken them, inviting secondary pests and diseases.

Tree Response

• Thick-barked trees (oak) suffer little; thin-barked species (maple, holly) are more vulnerable.
• Holes heal naturally; no need to fill them.

Management Options

1. Do nothing – if tree is otherwise healthy, damage is usually cosmetic.
2. Discourage feeding – spray trunk with insecticide (e.g., malathion, carbaryl) to reduce insect prey, making the tree less attractive. Reapply as needed.
3. Physical barriers – wrap trunk with burlap or hardware cloth during peak sapsucker activity (spring/fall).

Key Point

Sapsucker damage is distinctive and rarely fatal. Monitor tree vigor; if decline accelerates, investigate secondary issues.