Re: What makes holes in walnut trees?

On 7/10/2025 9:16 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

This morning I notied a couple of sap weeps on the trunk of
a seedling walnot tree planted about fifteen years ago. It
looks like something chewed holes in the trunk about two feet
above the ground, leaving a residue of cuttings in the entrance
hole and a bit of sap around it, with the excess dripping down.
 
Photos are in
http://www.zefox.net/~bp/walnut/
 
If anybody recognizes the pattern I'd be curious to know
what it is. The tree seems healthy, at least for now.
 
If anybody has a clue what it might be please let me know.
 
Thanks for reading,
 
bob prohaska
 

Is it possible both are the result of vandalism?  The second photo in
particular shows something resembling a cut by a pruning saw.

I don't think the first photo is from an insect or a woodpecker.  (On
the Zelkova tree in front of my house, a woodpecker made holes that
resembled the work of insect borers.)  Also, it is too deep relative to
its diameter for it to be from a gnawing animal.

I would seal both holes with white glue (e.g.: Willhold, Elmer's, Glue
Bird).  Do not use pruning paint, which can cause adjacent plant tissue
to die.

--
David E. Ross
Climate:  California Mediterranean, see
<http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>