It looks more like physical damage to the bark by some animal. It does not look like a disease issue. Plant diseases in general are mostly species and individual conditions specific and won't spread to other kind plants. They can spread to more of the same kind plants in the right conditions.

What kind varmints you got?

Porcupines are not something I consider thank you very much.

Thank you

Could also be a big woodpecker like a pileated woodpecker.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pileated_woodpecker

^^ Not at the base of the tree!!

I'm not sure we have enough info to determine cause. Is that just a bark wound or is that a soft spongy patch? I looks to me more like a bark wound, in which case, like others, I'd say mechanical damage of some sort.

Yes pileated woodpeckers will peck wood on the ground. They got big feet that work just fine on the ground.

Actually the woodpecker is a very good option given the Texas location. Plus in the picture with the hand, you can see bits of sawdust/chips and bark pieces on the ground. It would also account for the height range of the damage.

Texas has nothing to do with it.

You find them up in my area quite frequently.

Look familiar?

https://stmedia.stimg.co/ows_14532218501432.jpg?fit=crop&crop=faces

They peck where the bugs are:

https://i.gifer.com/AOyA.gif

I was just ruling out the porcupine for Texas. I wasn't seeing any claw marks so that eliminates a number of suspects.

These are the trees with the least damage. I will add some more pictures. I noticed that one of the trees has a lot of bugs...maybe beetles. I am not sure. I was unable to take pictures today but will share some tomorrow. I also noticed that it seemed to be all on the same kind of trees.

thank you for your repsonses

Take some closeup pictures of the tree's smaller stems and leaves. A proper plant ID can help solve the puzzle.

Woodpeckers love bugs ... thats one of the main reasons they hammer at the tree bark (the other being love ... and it could also be your house, they don't care).

If it's only low on trees, deer might be participants, as well. They rub on the trees, and it strips some of the bark, though the bugs and patchiness make me lean a bit more towards woodpecker(s).

Bill_minn, thanks for that gif -- that's a pileated on a mission to chop that whole tree down.

Dryocopus pileatus var 'Lumberjack' ;o)

also... can you rule out punks or beloved children or grandchildren ?????

Also send pix to you local county extension office and see what they think.

https://counties.agrilife.org/

tj

this tree seems to be done with the bugs and woodpeckers but the branches ad leaves indicate that it is alive

these are close ups of the bugs/beetles I found on the tree. Yesterday they were there in hoards but today they were not much. The yard was graded today so not sure if that disturbed the bugs

Any ideas on what might be happening to the trees. should I be worried about the beetles? anything I can do to get rid of them?

Wow! I have never seen anything like that. It can't be a first though. Somebody in Texas has to know what is happening here. Priya can you sit quietly with the trees for a while and watch? What have you seen other than the beetles? I would still like to know what kind of tree this is. Can you get a closeup of the leaves?

Can we see those beetles more closely? I'm wondering if it might be a borer. When you said bugs earlier, I was thinking little guys ...

Hard to see but the insect may be the nymph of Jadera haematoloma (red shouldered bug). They are drawn to tree sap but I doubt they did the damage. Definitely contact your county extension office.

Do you know what the trees are?

tj

Thanks All. My landscaper is bringing an expert to look at the trees.

Curious to know what the expert said. Any update?

tj