Red Maple Tree Case Study

I have identified the cause of the damages to Mrs.Sibley’s red maple tree. The zoomed-in image you sent me was definitely caused by carpenter ants. These pests excavate galleries into trees to lay eggs and raise their young. They are causing damage to the tree, however the damage is not from consumption of the wood. These ants feed on the honeydew that is produced by aphids and termites and, more than likely, were not the original cause of damage. The maple tree could have been hit by lightning, damaged by lawn equipment, or be under attack by another pests. Black carpenter ants can most likely be found in dying trees, hollowing trees, decaying woody material or even indoors. This makes it an extremely important pest because they aid in the breakdown and decomposition of wood in forests. They can also be an indicator of a hollow tree or the presence of termites if present in dry wood used in the construction of houses. The black carpenter ant can be found anywhere in the United States. …show more content…
Although the ants cause damage by boring into trees, mortality is usually contributed to another pests or damage. Understanding the ant’s life cycle is important when making decisions on how to control them. The life cycle begins when adult males and females emerge, take flight, and mate during spring and summer months. Shortly after the males die and females lose their wings and establish a new colony in an area like Mrs.Sibley’s maple tree. When the first brood hatch, they take on duties such as foraging for food, further excavating, and taking care of the next generation of larvae. This occurs until the colony becomes well established, normally in a couple of years, and then winged males and females are produced to start the process over