Wood Boring Insects In Large Willow Tree

Lizbetty

Hello!
We have a large weeping willow in our garden, and yesterday I noticed a patch where a large trunk was cut years ago has evidence of wood boring insects. Not sure how long it has been like that!

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend the best approach for this please? I have read that it's best to treat the whole trunk. I'm a little worried about being too liberal with insecticide and harming other wildlife, and not sure what is best to use. 

All advice is really welcomed. (I need to treat the cause soon as I'm worried about it affecting the stability if I don't and it falling on Joan at the bottom of the garden.) 

Many thanks!
Lucy  

tacpot12

If you don't get any answers here, try calling a local arborculturalist for advice. You are right to be worried. We had a large willow tree in our garden that was rotten, but the hole was only visible from our neighbour's garden so we knew nothing about the problem. One day we had a 40 foot Willow laid across our garden! The roots kicked up as it fell over and demolished a garden wall.

twopenny

I can't help with what to use but you could wrap the treated area in cling film for a few days until it has all soaked in..
Shouldn't harm the trunk and will stop insects or birds coming into contact with it.

Woolsery

Healthy trees don't tend to have wood boring insect larvae in them. If it's a large part of the trunk this is probably a sign that the tree is nearing the end of its life. Willows aren't the longest living trees and now's perhaps the time to think about how it will be replaced.If it's an offshoot, a tree surgeon may be able to sever it and re-balance the tree, but probably in the autumn rather than now.

Lizbetty

Thanks so much for the replies. It actually seems to be woodlice on closer inspection, so it isn't looking hopeful as it must be rotting already. 

We do have a really lovely local tree surgeon so I will give him a call. My husband will be overjoyed if it needs cutting down, he hates pruning it every year to keep the neighbours happy! I'm crossing my fingers it can be saved, but safety first.

Many thanks again! 
Lucy

Lizbetty

Just an update! Our local tree surgeon came and gave us some advice, we drilled a hole and it seems to be rotten to quite a deep level. The tree is at a wonk and if it breaks at that point it'd be a disaster, so unfortunately this will be it's final year with us. I've bought some silver birch already to replace it (privacy is a thing) but will miss it! Even if my husband or neighbours won't! 

Thanks again for the advice! 

Lucy