Colorado Blue Spruce - Ask Extension
We recently got back from vacation and I noticed that there is fresh "sawdust" at base of true and noticed a couple large black ants going i...
Knowledgebase
Colorado Blue Spruce #934352
Asked June 05, 2026, 2:32 PM EDT
We recently got back from vacation and I noticed that there is fresh "sawdust" at base of true and noticed a couple large black ants going in and out of an opening near the base. Also noticed several small holes and bark is missing. Are they related and can we treat it?
Thank you
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
https://extension.umn.edu/insects-infest-homes/carpenter-ants
Carpenter ants prefer rotted wood for their galleries but will tunnel in healthy wood.
The round holes look like bark beetle damage.
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-256/E-256.html?
TSPD_101_R0=08993c5290ab20002c1eb956189e81c03ad6c633ba80d5c130136e0afdc0ae12419cdf2a67936a45085dc83a9a<personal data hidden>1ea22a07bf0454eb879149a8cb357e2a0d1ca85e851daa6530b524e04a952dd2b22e6f6dfd23c88c93d920d5737
Unfortunately insect activity is often a sign of an unhealthy tree.
Your tree is also sloughing a lot of bark, also a sign of a sick tree.
It would be best to have the tree evaluated by an arborist. Diseased trees can spontaneously fail and cause property damage or injury. An arborist can also advise a treatment, if there is one (doubtful) and the cost.
Carpenter ants prefer rotted wood for their galleries but will tunnel in healthy wood.
The round holes look like bark beetle damage.
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-256/E-256.html?
TSPD_101_R0=08993c5290ab20002c1eb956189e81c03ad6c633ba80d5c130136e0afdc0ae12419cdf2a67936a45085dc83a9a<personal data hidden>1ea22a07bf0454eb879149a8cb357e2a0d1ca85e851daa6530b524e04a952dd2b22e6f6dfd23c88c93d920d5737
Unfortunately insect activity is often a sign of an unhealthy tree.
Your tree is also sloughing a lot of bark, also a sign of a sick tree.
It would be best to have the tree evaluated by an arborist. Diseased trees can spontaneously fail and cause property damage or injury. An arborist can also advise a treatment, if there is one (doubtful) and the cost.
Hi Evelyn –
Thank you for the heads up. When I saw that I had a bad feeling that was what was going to be the answer. I will contact an arborist next week for their thoughts and estimates. I have never seen that “sawdust” thing happening before which really caught my attention.
Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for your quick response!
Dorene
From: ask=<personal data hidden> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2026 7:06 PM
To: Dorene Kelly
Subject: Re: Colorado Blue Spruce (#0204267)
You are welcome, I wish I had better news
