Suspicious slits

[treeseer]

Not sure it's a pest, but here it is. Lacebark elms are in shade with poor drainage. These slits are mostly on tension side of the leaders but some are quite randomly placed.

 

Resembles sapsucker damage in a way but there are not discrete beak-sized holes, but more like continuous slits. Several are way above the reach of vandals. No oozing or frass, seems like a pretty good response by the trees.

 

Any ideas on cause or what else to assess?

[nepia]

Wouldn't have a clue but those are intriguing trees: what's their Latin name? The names you have for your trees over there are like a foreign language to us.

 

Cheers.

[treeseer]

sorry Ulmus parvifolia is an increasingly common urban tree here.

[daltontrees]

Intriguing! Would it be worth damaging one stem a little by removing bark at the midpoint of one of the fresher slits to see if there is a track of a bark-borer?

[nepia]

sorry Ulmus parvifolia is an increasingly common urban tree here.

 

 

No apology needed; all part of the rich tapestry!

 

 

Thanks - a true Ulmus then. Beautiful.

[treeseer]

Intriguing! Would it be worth damaging one stem a little by removing bark at the midpoint of one of the fresher slits to see if there is a track of a bark-borer?

Excellent suggestion. Wish I'd had a knife with me when I was shown these. I'll see about getting this done--slicing some wedges out and looking for trails or other signs.