Mystery Limb Drop on Italian Cypress: Twig Girdler or Squirrels?

Cleanly severed cypress limbs accumulating on the ground suggest one of two culprits:

1. Twig Girdler (Oncideres spp.) – Longhorned Beetle

• Female chews a V-shaped groove around pencil-sized twigs in late summer/fall.
• Lays eggs in the severed portion; larvae develop inside fallen twig.
• Cut end looks beaver-chewed: rough outside, ragged center.

2. Twig Pruner (Elaphidionoides villosus) – Another Longhorned Beetle

• Larva tunnels down twig center from tip, severs from inside in late summer.
• Cut end looks saw-cut: smooth interior, radiating spiral pattern.

3. Squirrels

• Clip twigs for nest material or feeding; cuts are clean but often at angles.
• Look for nests in nearby oaks; check for gnaw marks on cut ends.

Diagnosis & Action

1. Examine cut ends closely with a hand lens to distinguish beetle type.
2. Collect and destroy ALL fallen twigs (burn, chip, bag for trash) before eggs hatch—this breaks the cycle.
3. Contact SC Forestry Commission for on-site ID and pest management advice:
   • County Forester: state.sc.us/forest/sc.htm
   • Pest Management: state.sc.us/forest/scid.htm

Insecticides are impractical (beetles don’t feed on bark). Cultural sanitation (twig removal) is the primary control.