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.
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.
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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Good shot of Dan!
Good shot of Dan!
He’s a good-lookin’ guy and very nice!
He’s a good-lookin’ guy and very nice!
Got any jokes from him?
Got any jokes from him?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ladder I’ll use to climb when I prune this tree. (?)
Ladder I’ll use to climb when I prune this tree. (?)
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;>)
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;>)
The jokester-pruner-knife sharpener sounds like a lot more fun than the flatheaded apple-borer vegetarian!
The jokester-pruner-knife sharpener sounds like a lot more fun than the flatheaded apple-borer vegetarian!
I saw Dan just today.
“Did you hear about the ants that found out that their uncles were ants too?”
I saw Dan just today.
“Did you hear about the ants that found out that their uncles were ants too?”
LOL Ernie!
LOL Ernie!