I was recently working on a very large, possibly Crimson King tree about 100 years old.

Trunk and wolf limb had weeping wounds that if on an oak I would have said oak borer. complete with the frass clumps pushed out.

Most of the tree looks good, decent terminal growth throughout, exept for the side with the wolf limb, which is becoming transparent, with some recent branch dieback, holding dead leaves.

this is a south by exposure, with an abrupt grade change to street level. No recent construction or soil disturbance was known. No UG utilites. No girdling root.

This area has been developed with little change for about 100 years. Near downtown Wauwatosa, just north of the valley for those familliar with the area.


Any guesses on what might be feeding?

Reply to post by JPS, on October 11, 2002 at 19:26:16:

How deep did you dig? Carpenterworm (Prionoxystus sp)goes deep and makes 90 degree corners--maddening bugger to remove. If coathanger fails I try flush w garden hose.

Any ALB up there?

And btw is St Bernard's church still downtown? Nuns there tried to knock sense into me, too bad it didn't work.

Reply to post by Guy, on October 11, 2002 at 19:26:16:

Did not do any probing past the frass clumps.

Holes too small for ALB, nowher neer dime sized.

I think St. Barnards did some expantion to the school this year, their down by M'waukee and 'Tosa road ehnnah'hey?

Reply to post by jps, on October 12, 2002 at 07:57:49:

Probing past frass essential; flush w strong water flow might force one out to ID. Following with a natural vermifuge like eucalyptus oil can help, or lindane if you use that stuff (some states say you must be a CPA- Certified Pesticide Applicator to use toxins for hire).

Is bark in attacked area alive? Not sure what a "wolf" limb is--canker beneath? Sounds like carpenterworm Prionoxystus which can attack maple.

So St. Bernie's is expanding? Good, that means parents would rather have their kids disciplined than subjected to the mad boredom public schools inflict.

Reply to post by Guy, on October 13, 2002 at 17:42:39:

From a 1999 message by Russ: "wolf limbs (the stray that got away, and outgrew the rest of the canopy)"
(I wasn't familiar with the term either.)

Reply to post by Mark Goodwin, on October 13, 2002 at 18:42:53:

Thanks Mark; that's a help. Wonder how that stray vigor might predispose a limb to pest attack, and the implications for management.

If this one is growing "transparent", is dieback from the tips next? Would reduction be a possible strategy, to subordinate the wolf back into the pack so it could lick its wounds?

re the bughole, a flexible hose on the end of a spray bottle can sometimes travel a tunnel with turns to deliver the repellent to the bug.

Reply to post by Guy, on October 14, 2002 at 11:35:25:

I've often wondered the etymology of "wolf limb".

The lowest southern limb is about 1/4 D the trunk at the union. It also makes up a large portion of the canopy on that side of the tree.

Yes there is apical deline on this limb as well as stunted leaves, good 360 basal flair, no above ground indication of root problems. Borer sign is present in other areas of the tree, but heaviest in this portion.

reduction cuts were made on this limb toallow room fro the rest of the canopy to grow in, though the tree is close to being senesent showing a consistant few inches of terminal growth throughout the majority of the crown.

I like tiny hose treatment, remides me of doing lavage on rodents in school.

My CPAL has lapsed because I farm that stuff out, or recomend companies to clients. I've found myselfe to be sensative to at lease carbaryl. Kinda scary when you lymph nodes swell up for no appearent reason.

Reply to post by jps, on October 15, 2002 at 08:05:06:

"lavage on rodents"? Doesn't sound like fun to me (or the rodent), but it takes all kinds.

I too have to farm out the heavy pesticide work, but still use botanical repellents cautiously. Depends on how you read the state regs whether it's strictly legal to do so; one state guy said ok so I said ok I can and will.

(I'd freak if my lymph nodes swelled, but having leukemia is even creepier because you just feel weak because your blood is weak. That's another reason the pest treatments get farmed out.)

The flexible hose good for straight diagnostics; can flush out the critters for ID.

re bleeding lesions--I'm noticing a whole lot more black streaks in trunks than before, is anyone else? Have had 2 positive tests for Phtophthora, sp. unknown. I'm buying a kit from www.neogen.com to field-ID Phtophthora, but they don't tell what sp.

I'm concerned about P. ramorum leaping across the continent; I'm told there is no resistance in North American oaks. Where can I get the sp. ID'd without paying $100's?

Reply to post by Guy, on October 19, 2002 at 10:33:20:

I know our state lab will ID specimines sent in.

Maybe you could ask on the TREEPHYS listserve if there are any labs in your area.

Reply to post by Guy, on October 19, 2002 at 10:33:20:

I have an understanding of leukeimia too, I was 2 she was 6. My folks still get choked up, and many memories revolve around what stage of treatment Debie was going through.

I was too youn to even recall her now.