Cherry tree borers - Ask Extension
Recently my cherry tree showed leaf wilt. Upon further inspection I noticed sawdust on the trunk and small round holes on the trunk and some branches....
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Cherry tree borers #929151
Asked April 21, 2026, 5:57 PM EDT
Recently my cherry tree showed leaf wilt. Upon further inspection I noticed sawdust on the trunk and small round holes on the trunk and some branches. I’m assuming a wood borer.
I probed a few holes with a paper clip and found no larvae and couldn’t find any adult beetles.
I have several fruit trees in my yard and need some advice on how to proceed from here. Do I try and treat the tree or remove it? How do I safely treat, remove and destroy it? What can I do to protect the other trees?
Thanks for your time.
Audrey
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your question.
This soundalike shot hole borer damage. The small round holes are the exit points for the adults. they usually attack unhealthy or stressed trees but can also attack healthy ones. Here is some information from Washington State Extension -
https://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/fact-sheet/cherry-shothole-borer/
Try to keep the trees as healthy as possible. Ensure they have enough water.
You should try to prune out damaged sections if possible. You can also whitewash (using interior latex paint) the trunks of these trees to help prevent sunburn and reduce attacks by these borers.
This soundalike shot hole borer damage. The small round holes are the exit points for the adults. they usually attack unhealthy or stressed trees but can also attack healthy ones. Here is some information from Washington State Extension -
https://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/fact-sheet/cherry-shothole-borer/
Try to keep the trees as healthy as possible. Ensure they have enough water.
You should try to prune out damaged sections if possible. You can also whitewash (using interior latex paint) the trunks of these trees to help prevent sunburn and reduce attacks by these borers.
