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Douglas fir die off #867755

Asked May 09, 2024, 1:54 PM EDT

I am losing my mature Douglas fir trees at an accelerating rate. Perfectly healthy trees are gradually losing their needles and dying. It appears from one of the trees I examined there are beetle tracks and damage to the cambium. Is there an aborist in the Extension Service with whom I can consult on this problem? Can the Service advise me on this type of problem? Thank you.

Multnomah County Oregon

Expert Response

Declining Douglas-fir are increasingly common recently, often triggered by drought stress followed by insect attack. The "tracks" under the bark in your photo are from bark beetles which often colonize stressed trees. OSU Extension does not have any arborists available for site visits and diagnosis. But we can help you from a distance to try to diagnose it and help you decide on options for DIY or if you need an arborist.

Here are some fact sheets about the most common bark beetles and wood borers that infest Douglas-fir, including some guidance about actions and treatments. You can often identify the insect based on the characteristic pattern of dieback and the engravings under the bark. I can't quite tell from your photo with just the small area of beetle tracks. You will want to examine a larger area under to bark.
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/Douglas-fir-beetle.pdf
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/DF%20Pole%20and%20Engraver_2017.pdf
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/FFB_2016.pdf

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 10, 2024, 8:53 PM EDT

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