Maple under attack - ring barked? bug or bird

MsViolet

I'd be most grateful for some advice please...Maple under attack!

I have recently noticed my Maple (~7 years old) has become the vicim of ring barking. It is mostly noticeable on the top branches and seems to be confined to the top 1/4 of the tree canopy, although also to a lesser extent to the lower branches. There is no evidence of any missing bark from the truck of the tree.

I have posted some photos of the tree as it appears today - note the bark has been eroded/eaten away on the larger branches and the offshoots have been ring barked with the end shoots missing completely.

Can the arborists please advise on the best method to treat the pest attacking my tree.

I am thinking it may be birds - but have not seen any such behaviour.

Thanks in advance for advice.

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Joey Meister

do you have squirrels in the area?, it looks to me like what happened to our neighbors maple, the squirrels were taking bark off of whole branches just like this, they do it to wear their teeth down, i would remove the branches that have the bark removed as they will not grow. also i am curious as to why all the other trees are leafed out and this tree has no leaves?.

Brent Ferris

Are you sure this is a maple? The branching looks a bit coarse for maple, more like Ash and there are numerous holes in the trunk -- perhaps a wood borer eg Emerald Ash Borer. THe tree may in fact be dying -- no leaves at this time of the year is highly suspect.

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MsViolet

Sorry..I should clarify, I am in Australia and its the middle of winter - the other plants are evergreen shrubs and have not been damaged in any way.

Could it be a possum causing the damage to the Maple?

Eric Frei

Yes, they do it to mango trees up here.

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redmower

Ms Voilet

can you describe the habitat in general around your place. Is there woodland nearby, tall eucalypt or sub tropical rainforest or temperate??. Looking to see what critters may be about, maybe I should have asked you this directly brushtails, ringtails, Bobucks looks too cold for tropical ones

May help guesses on what is doin the chewin. (sorry about that)

Taking this theme a bit further: have you had a guess at the teeth size? possums usually leave visible teeth scrapes rat have significant incisors so their nibbles may have narrow scrapes in pairs (you have probably ruled out the rabbit with a stepladder concept)


Maybe have a look about for insect signs because the aim of the chewin may not be eating the bark it may be to eat larvae under the bark.

RM

MsViolet

Thankyou for the replies.

RM - I am located not far from CBD of Adelaide, a small park behind the rear fenceline with a number of small trees (unsure of kind, native with red berries in spring), a large eucalypt two doors down, fruit trees next door and an extra large norfolk pine on the other side. No other plants appear to be affected within my yard.

It is possible there are possums about, however, I have not looked for any other evidence.

I have posted another picture of a branch (2.5cm in diameter) I cut down this afternoon in preparation of 'possum proofing' access via the trunk. I can't tell by the teeth marks...??

There is no evidence of any bugs, larvae or holes or any weeping from the tree - all dry and smooth.

Anyone have an idea on how far a possum can jump from the ground up?

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redmower

MV

The pic shows what I think are possum chews. Happy to be wrong on this but the size and shape works for me. Rats would have left finer teeth marks and paired grooves.

I would allow 3 feet off the ground for a running jump. Depends how fat your possum is and how long a run up he has. Once off the ground, your anti-possum collar could be 2 feet long (600mm), as they have less take off room.

An easy way to learn a tiny bit about your chewer is a footprint pad of very fine sand around the base of the tree. lay paper or a tarp or similar go up to two feet out from the trunk spread the sand lightly maybe 1 inch thick and brush it with a fine dustpan brush just before dark each nite. Inspect the footprint early in the morning when shadows are the best. Possums have feet that leave 'handprints'. You could probably learn the same information with a sand print site set-up nearby using a few pieces of apple for bait placed in the centre of a 3 feet dia. sand pad.


As for the reason for the chewin' after looking at your latest photo I am now inclined to think maybe for food and/or for medicinal reasons. In southern Africa some herbivores chew the bark of the Marula tree. (google it for fun) Elephants do this for medicine, and I have photos of bark ripped by their tusks off more ten feet above the ground. I am not suggesting you have elephants. (They do make an excellent licqueur Amarula from the fruits of the Marula tree)

RM

MsViolet

Thankyou RM for the advice on the chew marks and the collaring required.
I'm relieved you ruled out elephants!

This is a great forum and thanks to all who steered me in the right direction to treat the cause most appropriately.