Oak tree borers - north texas

iSeeker

I have an oak tree in my backyard that is approximately 8 years old and has done extremely well up until now. In the past 2 weeks some type of borer has taken up residence in the tree. It looked to first attack one long branch that reach all the way to the top of the tree from the man trunk split, but I am now seeing signs of its existence on other branches. The borer seems to enter just above the split of a smaller branch on a larger branch. Sap drenches the tree below the hole. Just below the hole is a pile of what looks to be wood/sawdust. I live in Flower Mound, Texas. I did trim the tree significantly this year. Probably about 1/5 to ¼ of the canopy. I also had installed a French drain near the tree and added some dirt as dirt wash was washing away with every heavy rain (neighbor’s water drained to my yard). Since added a dry river bed over the drain and another small dry river bed on the other side of the tree.

I have a Shumard Red Oak (planted by Treeland in Gunter around Aug-2009; 95 gallon) on the other side of my small lawn that was infested with Japanese beetles last year and had some of the same weeping of sap but without the heavy wood/sawdust and without as visible a hole as appears on the other tree.

I’ve recently (March 19, 2011) sprayed with a Sevin pest control and treated with Bayer 12-month Tree and Shrub Feed and Protect.

I’ve attached two photos. One of the tree itself from 20 feet away and one of the typical hole in the tree. Any help would be appreciated.

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