Termites in London Plane tree?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I have a London Plane tree being attacked by what appears to be termites or some other wood boring insect. No ants or other insects visible, just the pellets at tunnel exits. Ideas on treatment plan? Thanks in advance for your replies!

Comments (11)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
from the pix i see.. that tree is dead ... at least the part pictured ...

where are you ... can we have a pic or 2 of the whole tree .. including its location within the property ...

from just these pix.. removal might be the best treatment.. especially if it threatens to fall on anything of value ....

otherwise... there is nothing you can do with interior wood that is rotted ... the cause happened years or decades ago ... and probably has nothing to do.. with the bugs you are seeing now .. killing those bugs will not solve your base issues ...

ken
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Original Author
7 years ago
This is a house where I installed a water feature for a customer. About 45 mins from my location in northern AZ. 5000' elevation, zone 5ish. I'm kicking myself for not taking a pic of the whole tree. I can tell you that the tree is very much alive and looks generally healthy from a distance. The only clue that anything is wrong is the leaves are a bit more sparse compared to another tree of the same variety about 30' away. The damage is concentrated around the trunk and first set of branches about 4' off the ground.
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I don't understand the issue because the trees under the same conditions it's done so well in all season ==>>> the issue you dont understand.. is that its august ... nights dont cool down for a recovery period... august conditions are not even close to those of spring and early summer .... you have a huge transplant.. and its not enjoying its first summer .. BTW... potted.. or BBurlap ... ??? water properly.. especially in regard to your clay soil.. and otherwise ignore it... its not hungry.. fert is not a remedy ... is it really in that much shade???? all that said... the 65 year old sycamores on moms street.. do this year around.. for 50 odds years.. its a sycamore ... i would speculate.. that a 15 foot transplant will take upwards of 3 years.. to get fully established.. for you to stop worrying about it.. in the mean time.. water properly ... see link on proper watering.. dealing with clay.. and amending planting holes ... ken ps: and if you are one of the lucky few.. who have had substantial rain this summer.. then you ought to find out.. if the soil is draining in your clay .... dig some small holes and find out ... Here is a link that might be useful: link
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having followed mary.. thru a half dozen of these forums... and enjoying the heck out of helping her ... i was trying to question her ID .. mary.. do you know for a fact this is a plane ....??? it matters.. when you compare... calliopes answer with mine ... pic of the leaves.. the bark and the whole.. might get you an ID ... so we can be sure we are all talking about the same tree ... as i said.. i dont know the latin on the ones i grew up with ... we just called them sycamores .... since we moved in t here in 1965 and dad was no botanist ...... they were planted when the sub was built in 1958 or so ... so they would not be any fancy hybrid.. developed since ... regardless.. i still maintain.. its not in a bad place ... according to your words .... ken
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Aquilachyrsaetos..You are right on about watering trees..People pay attention..this is the proper way to water a tree!!! When I lived in the western Great Basin I would put the drips on for 12-24 hrs every 6 weeks on the trees depending on the location. I planted over 30. Lost some but we had over 7 ph and hard pan and hard weather. I figure it doesn't grow it doesn't live here! I live in Oregon now and I trying to figure out what to plant. LP or a Sour Gum for shade on the south side of the house. Roots being what I am concerned about cuz I want it sorta close to the house..20-30 ft.
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years ago
I suggest that you encourage your customer to search for ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborists in that area. He/she should obtain at least three professional diagnostic appointments and estimates on whatever work needs to be done.

A trained arboricultural professional will be able to determine the future of that tree based on all kinds of criteria.

Please don't expect anyone to be able to give you the whole story from a few pictures.
PRO
Caldwell Home & Garden
7 years ago
I agree with rhizo. You need to find an ISA certified arborist to look at your tree.
poaky1
7 years ago
London plane in Arizona? I am not good with western US climate facts, but, I am going to guess that London plane trees like lottsa moisture. I have one in my yard, pretty large now. They are like their cousins Sycamores, they like moisture throughout their growing season, spring and summer, they like moisture in fall and some in winter, they like it in the eastern and middle of the USA. I don't think I am wrong, does someone have anything to add that will say why these trees should do fine in Arizona?
Huggorm
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
They are at least 50% platanus orientalis though, and that is a mediterranean tree. That would indicate some tolerance of summer drought.

But there is an "Arizona sycamore" as well, platanus wrightii. Maybe that's what it is.
poaky1
7 years ago
The OP says it is a London Plane. London planes moisture needs compared with the Sycamore are similar, but, London planes aren't likely to get Anthractnose. A disease that makes Sycamore leaves get brown and die and fall to the ground. If the OP is mistaken, and it was an Arizona Sycamore I guess it would do fine in Az. The platanus Orientalis part of London Plane that should make it okay in Arizona, I think someone should start with a tiny transplant, or even seed before I would try to grow a London Plane in Arizona. My opinion. I just can't see London plane ever surviving in Arizona without lots of irrigation. And a good thick layer of mulch.
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Original Author
7 years ago
We have both Platanus acerifolia and wrightii here, and even though wrightii is native, the London Plane tree has proven to be more resistant to anthracnose. At least in our area. No doubt this tree is acerifolia...

So, nobody has witnessed termites setting up colonies in living trees? Any other ideas as to what this could be living in the trunk of the tree? I agree the owner of the tree should get a certified arborist to take a look, but that's not my call,and I'm just dang curious. I will email the client and ask for more pics of the tree from afar...

Thanks for taking the time to comment everyone.
socalgal_gw Zone USDA 10b Sunset 24
7 years ago
I have had termite damage in the dead bark of live trees, but the pellets were free flowing. Those look like something is holding them together?
davidrt28 (zone 7)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I have seen dying Cornus florida full of termites. Actual, unambiguous termites. They are easy to ID if you know what you're seeing. OTOH, this does kind of look like termite frass, but I'm not an expert at that type of identification. It could be the result of another wood boring insect or pest of live trees.
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Original Author
7 years ago
Socalgal, the pellets are only slightly held together. They come apart when touched.

David, this tree is very much alive. The leaves are a bit sparser than one nearby, and the obvious trunk damage. However the casual observer would think the tree is very healthy. I think the suspected termites, or whatever they are, are actually doing the damage.

Termites in London Plane tree?

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Termites in London Plane tree?

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