It was a Flatheaded Apple Borer Day

A Flatheaded Apple Borer sounds like an overenthusiastic, preachy and not so intelligent vegetarian I once knew. But, in reality, the creature is a nasty little worm that tunnels winding holes in the bark of fruit trees (actually it also can be found on madrone, oak and other native species, too.) Today, Poet and pruner, Dan Brewer came to Salmon Creek to teach a class on fruit tree maintenance and he showed us the ugly truth. Below you can see the result of the tiny creature.

Flatheaded Apple Borer hole

Hole caused by damage from a Flatheaded Apple Borer

The insects are usually found on drought or otherwise stressed trees. The larva is yellow white and about an inch long. When Dan pulled one out, he accidentally tore off the head but he sent me to Ram Fishman’s wonderful site to get a drawing.

drawing of flatheaded apple borer

Chrysobothris femorata

According to Lawn and Garden, the adult beetle is about a 1/2 inch long and a metallic dark gray or brown. It lays its eggs in the crevices of tree bark where it hatches as ravenous larvae. There the worm hides from the winter weather, emerging in late spring and begins its cycle again. Although, Dan recommended pruning the site of invasion away when possible, he also showed how to carefully scrape away the damage and use a straightened paper clip to dig out the creature.

Mainly, Dan taught us how to recognize fruit wood and branch wood and where to prune–how to open a tree up. I’m still not sure I can do a great job but I enjoyed myself.

Towards the end, sitting in the warm sunshine made me sleepy. I gathered my youngest and the leftover manicotti from our lunch and slipped away–contented. I learned enough that I can tell a Flatheaded Apple Borer from a dumb vegetarian pest–and that’s enough to keep me happy today.

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22 Comments
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headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Good shot of Dan!

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Good shot of Dan!

Staff
Member
16 years ago

He’s a good-lookin’ guy and very nice!

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Got any jokes from him?

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Got any jokes from him?

Staff
Member
16 years ago

I’m terrible with jokes. I always forget the punch lines. I do remember the first part of one he told.
Knock knock
Who’s there?
Lateral
Lateral who?

But…I can’t remember the rest.

mjean1
Guest
mjean1
16 years ago

You can certainly tell who the locals are. Everyone knows Dan and his jokes. I knew he did knife sharpening but somehow I missed his skill as a tree pruner.

mjean1
Guest
mjean1
16 years ago

You can certainly tell who the locals are. Everyone knows Dan and his jokes. I knew he did knife sharpening but somehow I missed his skill as a tree pruner.

Jen
Guest
Jen
16 years ago

Well, I hope he helps you get rid of the bugs. I always mess up jokes. My best friend always says “Don’t tell that joke. You always screw it up.”
Yep. That’s me.

Jen
Guest
Jen
16 years ago

Well, I hope he helps you get rid of the bugs. I always mess up jokes. My best friend always says “Don’t tell that joke. You always screw it up.”
Yep. That’s me.

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Ladder I’ll use to climb when I prune this tree. (?)

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Ladder I’ll use to climb when I prune this tree. (?)

Staff
Member
16 years ago

Headwrapper, Obviously you are both good with jokes and know Dan well! Yes, that is the joke.

Jen, Me too with the jokes.

Mom, you would have loved him today. He was interesting and knew what he was talking about (or at least he fooled me;>)

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

The jokester-pruner-knife sharpener sounds like a lot more fun than the flatheaded apple-borer vegetarian!

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

The jokester-pruner-knife sharpener sounds like a lot more fun than the flatheaded apple-borer vegetarian!

Ernie
Guest
16 years ago

I saw Dan just today.

“Did you hear about the ants that found out that their uncles were ants too?”

Ernie
Guest
16 years ago

I saw Dan just today.

“Did you hear about the ants that found out that their uncles were ants too?”

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

LOL Ernie!

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

LOL Ernie!