[Pinebear]

I noticed a pin oak on my land was dropping the ends of branches, just a foot or two of branch would fall off. I thought it was wind damage at first but it kept happening. The branch tips on the ground are loaded with acorns and the leaves are green. Upon closer examination I noticed the place where the branch broke off was not wick, but a small, dry, dead section instead that appeared to just snap off. So I broke the stem back a little and saw the center pith was hollow. Odd. I kept splitting the stem and found a little, tiny grub like worm with dark mouthparts inside. Any idea what this critter is? I also noticed a bull pine dropping healthy branch tips also but I thought it might have been a porcupine doing it like they do to hemlocks but now I think it must be same little grub. After the gypsy moths killed all my white oaks and most of the rock oaks all I have left are the reds and pin oaks so this is a worry. Our poor trees are really under attack these days.

 

[fordman99]

Google "Oak twig pruner"
Never heard of it before,but it sure seems to fit your situation.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/oakprune.pdf

 

[Pinebear]

Thanks fordman, that's definitely the culprit. I never heard of it before either. I wonder if it's been in pa. a while or something new?

 

[Pa Bird Man]

I'm started seeing the same thing at my house, only thing is they're hitting the chestnut oaks here.