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Swedish Aspen Borer Damage: Sawdust and Drill Holes

Pest ID

Sawdust at base + small drill holes up trunk + ants = borer infestation (likely poplar borer or similar). Ants are secondary, attracted to sap/borer frass.

Standard Treatment

Spray trunk (as high as possible) with Onyx (bifenthrin) or Merit (imidacloprid). Bark absorbs insecticide, kills larvae in galleries.

Vigor Improvement

Fertilize with 10-10-10 at 1 lb/inch trunk diameter (scatter, water in). Borers attack stressed trees; vigor reduces susceptibility.

Canadian Product Alternative (Follow-Up)

Dimethoate not reliably effective for borers. Contact local Canadian nursery or provincial forestry agency for registered borer controls in your province.

Trees: Slime Mold and Trunk Decay on Mature Maple: Separate Issues; Locust Borer: Sawdust from Trees in Nevada; Adding Fill Soil Around Pine Trees: Why Less Is More; Columnar Swedish Aspen Too Close to House: Relocate or Remove; Diagnosing Two Problem Trees: Borer and Canker; Large Fungus at Base of Pecan Tree: Cut or Keep?; Pruning Columnar Swedish Aspens: Leaders and Large Leaves; Why Painting Tree Trunks Is Harmful and Should Be Avoided; Why Regular Tree Pruning Is Essential for Beauty and Safety; The Secret to Pruning Apple Trees: Train Early, Prune for Production

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