Wood Borers of Living Trees

Stems of living trees provide food and shelter for many species of boring insects. Plants in various stages of development from very young seedlings to mature trees may be attacked. The damage caused by these insects results in the death of living stems and shoots and reduction in the wood quality due to boring and weakening of standing trees. In addition to these direct effects, borers may open the way for secondary attack by wood rotting or staining fungi, thus hastening decay.