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Japanese Maple Borer: Trunk Spray or Soil Drench

Two Effective Options

Trunk spray: Apply Merit (imidacloprid) or Onyx (bifenthrin) directly to borer entry wounds/holes.
Soil drench: Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control (imidacloprid) around base—roots translocate to trunk/branches, kill borers internally.

Recommendation

Use both for maximum efficacy: spray visible wounds now, apply soil drench for residual protection. Japanese maples are high-value; borers can kill quickly.

Trees: Japanese Maple Red Bug Infestation: Identification Request for Bark-Feeding Pest; Japanese Maple Leaf Scorch and Color Change: Environmental, Not Disease; Red Maple Borer Infestation: Sap Flow and Bud Failure; Japanese Maple Transplant Shock: Watering and Establishment Care; Transplanting a 10-Year-Old Dwarf Red Maple: Timing, Technique & Pro Help; Red Maple Leaf Tip Burn: Nutrient Deficiency or Herbicide?; Maple Bladder Galls: Cosmetic Mite Damage; Japanese Red Maple and Japanese Beetles: Manageable Risk; Japanese Maple Leaves Turning Green in Summer; Japanese Maple Decline Near Pond: Leaf Scorch?

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