Question
QUESTION: Our Maple Tree has holes up and down the bark. This particular tree is very mature. It has black bark and looks like it was burnt by lightning. There are insect looking stuff in the holes. The tree is full of leaves. I am concerned because I am always picking up dead branches and some are pretty thick with holes everywhere in them. I have been reading your answers on some of the problems but cannot match exactly to ours. We need to know if we should have this tree removed. I have pictures if you need to see this. We have 3 very mature Maple trees in our front yard and this is the only one that seems to be diseased. Thanks for your answer in advance.

ANSWER: I would not cut the tree unless it dies and you said it had good green foliage. I would spray the trunk with an insecticide called Merit-this will kill the borers that enter old wounds on the trunk. Your local nursery should have this product. If the holes are in a line along the trunk these are caused by a woodpecker called sap sucker. the birds make the holes and insects come to the sap and the birds eat the insects. The spray will keep insects from coming and discourage the woodpeckers since there will be no insects. Trees will shed leaves and limbs as they grow --this is normal.  Sounds like the tree is ok and I would not take it down.

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QUESTION: Will the "Merit-this" cure the BLACK BARK problem also? What kind of disease is this?

Answer
Merit will solve the borer problem. The black on the bark is a fungus that is just growing on the bark and is not effecting the health of the tree. If you want to get rid of the black you can  control it by spraying the bark with a fungicide containing cooper.