Sapsucker Damage on Ornamental Pear: Identification and Response

What’s Drilling Those Neat Rows of Holes?

The evenly spaced horizontal or vertical holes on your ornamental pear trunk are classic yellow‑bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) work. Sapsuckers are woodpeckers that feed heavily on tree sap, supplementing with insects attracted to the sap wells.

Damage Assessment

• Trees with thick bark (oak) suffer little.
• Thin‑barked species (maple, pear, birch) can sustain extensive hole rows.
• Rarely fatal, but heavy feeding weakens trees and invites secondary pests/diseases.

The Sapsucker–Insect Cycle

1. Bird drills holes → tree exudes sap.
2. Insects (flies, beetles, ants) gather at sap.
3. Sapsucker returns to eat the insects.

Management Options

• Do nothing: Trees compartmentalize the wounds naturally. No filling needed.
• Discourage feeding: Spray the affected trunk area with a contact insecticide (e.g., malathion, carbaryl/Sevin) to kill the insects. Without the insect buffet, the bird often moves on.
• Physical deterrents: Reflective tape, netting, or trunk wraps during peak activity (spring/fall) can help.

Key Takeaway

Your tree’s health is not in immediate danger. Monitor for signs of decline (dieback, fungal conks) and maintain vigor with proper watering and fertilization.