Question
I just noticed that several of our Quaking Aspen trees have sawdust at their bases and it appears that there are some holes in the trunk of the trees. The foliage is still green. I have other types of trees: beech, oak, maple etc. This appears to be only happening to the aspens. I live in the pacific northwest. This appears to be going from tree to tree. We have aspens that circle the property line, in different clumpings. There is space between the clumpings (20 to 30 feet) and the trees don't touch other clumpings. There are some trees that it appears that it has not reached yet. I think that it is some type of insect but don't know for sure. Any help that you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
US Forest Service researchers are looking into the problem of Aspen dying across the West.

Sudden Aspen Decline or SAD is responsible for the deaths of almost 10 percent of aspen groves in the San Juan National Forest. U.S. Forest Service officials say aspens in low elevations in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests are also dying at an alarming rate.

Severe drought earlier this decade weakened or stressed the trees, leaving them susceptible to disease, and insect infestations may be raising mortality rates, researchers say.

In trees affected by SAD, the roots are weakened, making it difficult for aspen stands to regenerate. Forest Service officials say that could eventually affect species that depend on aspens as well as economies that depend on hunting and tourism.

Forest pathologist Jim Worrall of the Forest Service said the trees dying today could have begun deteriorating three to five years ago. The trees first lose their green, heart-shaped leaves, the crown thins and branches die. A destructive canker or infestation and bugs could finish off the stressed trees.

Worrall said the die-off of aspens in the region is getting worse.

"It's actually not gradual at all as far as the trees are concerned. It's happened so fast, people are probably not aware of it. I feel like we can't get enough data to answer questions to provide information to the public," he said.

The Forest Service conducted an aerial study last year that showed the Dolores Ranger District in the state's southwest corner had 12,860 acres, or 9.84 percent, of dead aspen acreage.

There does seem to be a connection to a beetle that maybe spreading the problem. I would contact the local office of the State Forestry agency and ask fro their help. You could spray the trunk of the tree with and insecticide called Onyx and this will kill the insect in the bark but the tree may already be dead. The Forester can help you determine on the ground whether the tree is alive or not.