A Rising Threat To San Diego Oak Trees
The Goldspotted Oak Borer
The Goldspotted Oak Borer was originally found in San Diego county, and it is making a significant return to several areas of Southern California, including San Diego, Riverside, and Orange Counties. Oak trees around the county are being attacked by this intrusive pest, which can lead to tree loss.
What is the Goldspotted Oak Borer?
The Goldspotted Oak Borer is a flat-headed borer that is currently known to attack three species of oak: coastal live, canyon live, and California black. Adults are usually 10mm in length and have bullet-shaped black bodies with gold spots on their sides.
What should you look for?
These borer attacks can be recognized by bark staining, which can appear as black regions or red blistering with sap oozing from under the bark. Adult exit holes signify previous attacks. These emergence holes are about 1/8” in width. On coast live oak, the bark is frequently removed by woodpeckers as they forage for larvae and pupae; which reveals the red-colored outer bark that contrasts with the gray exterior bark.
The presence of the larvae, the emergence holes, and the associated woodpecker damage all can help distinguish a Goldspotted Oak Borer infestation, which eventually results in dieback of entire branches and tree loss.
How can you protect your trees?
Treatments should be applied preventatively before dieback symptoms occur. You should contact a Certified Arborist to find out if other attacks have been reported nearby. Don’t move oak tree wood in North County San Diego! Do not wait for visible dieback; delaying treatment can result in canopy dieback or tree loss.
What treatments are there?
Tree Barber’s Certified Arborist, Paul Rider, is also a licensed Pest Control Applicator. “Over-the-counter” insecticides are not effective in protecting your trees and the trees in your community. Only a licensed Pest Control Applicator may purchase and use commercial grade insecticides.
Contact Us
For more information about the Goldspotted Oak Borer or our pest & disease control services, please give our office a call today! 760.745.7871
We’re proud to offer reliable and quality tree services to North County San Diego residents, including the communities of Bonsall, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Oceanside, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Solana Beach, and Vista.