Diagnosing Holes in a Drake Elm Trunk

An 8-year-old Drake elm (8-inch diameter) has a block of ¼-inch holes about 3 feet up the trunk and at upper forks. The owner asks if this is fatal and how to treat it.

Likely Cause: Sapsucker Damage

If the holes are in neat rows, they are almost certainly made by a yellow-bellied sapsucker (a woodpecker). The bird drills holes to feed on sap and the insects attracted to it.

Management

• Spray the affected area with a household insecticide (e.g., malathion, Bug-B-Gone) to eliminate the insects; the bird will lose interest.
• If the pattern doesn’t match sapsucker damage, provide a photo for further diagnosis.

This damage is rarely fatal to established trees.