Question
Dear Jim,
I live in Northern California and have noticed last year that a woodpecker has been making his superficial marks throughout the trunk of the tree. My question is with all the marks, would this make my Hollyberry tree vulnerable to any disease such as scale on the branches which I had the pest control company treat twice with chemicals so far. Looking forward to your feedback.

Gilbert

Answer
These are sap sucker woodpeckers. They make the holes and sap from the tree forms and insects feed on the sap and the bird returns to eat the insects. They really do little damage to the tree.

No it does not cause scale insect problems to increase.