Rows of Holes in Coconut Palm: Sapsucker Woodpecker

Quarter-inch holes in horizontal rows on one dwarf coconut palm in South Florida, oozing sap—classic sapsucker (woodpecker) damage.

Why They Do It

Sapsuckers drill sap wells; insects attracted to sap; bird returns to eat insects. Minimal harm to healthy palm.

Carpenter ants nest in moist/rotting wood, not living bark. They don't bore through bark.

No control needed. If cosmetic damage bothers, wrap trunk with hardware cloth or burlap temporarily.

Pests: Mystery Holes in a Small Tree Trunk: Woodpeckers or Something Else?; Maple Leaf Spots and Tulip Tree Trunk Holes: Two Separate Issues; Pine Tree Holes in Rows: Sapsucker Woodpecker Damage; Cedar Spruce Sap Sucker Damage: Bird-Caused Holes Misidentified as Borers; Weeping Willow Trunk Holes: Borer vs. Sapsucker Damage; Storm Damage on Mature Conifer: Wound Care and Long-Term Assessment; Maple Borer Infestation in Old Wound: Treatment and Risk; Sapsucker Damage on Ornamental Pear: Identification and Response; Oak Tree Cavity Assessment: When Holes Indicate Hazard; Crabapple Borer Treatment and Recovery

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