08/04/2026
What’s hiding under the bark of a dying tree?
Most people never get to see what I see when a tree comes down.
When I peeled the bark off this dead tree, I found an incredible maze of tunnels. Those tiny “roads” were carved by bark beetles as they burrowed beneath the bark. The adults lay eggs there, and when the larvae hatch, they feed on the living layer of the tree called the cambium. That thin layer is the tree’s plumbing system—it carries water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.
As the larvae feed, they destroy that lifeline. Eventually, the tree can no longer move water or nutrients, and it dies.
🌳 Elm trees are often attacked by elm bark beetles, which also spread the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease.
🌳 Ash trees face another deadly enemy—the emerald ash borer. Its larvae also tunnel just beneath the bark, cutting off the tree’s ability to survive. Millions of ash trees across New York have been lost because of this tiny metallic green beetle.
It’s amazing to think that insects only about the size of a grain of rice can bring down a tree that’s been growing for decades.
Have you ever peeled bark off a dead tree and discovered these hidden tunnels? Nature is fascinating—and sometimes devastating.
If you have dead or hazardous trees removed and are left with unsightly stumps, I’d be happy to help restore your yard with professional stump grinding.
David’s Stump Grinding
Serving Walworth and surrounding communities.
