Question
I HAVE 12 YOUNG MAPLES WE PLANTED 2 YRS AGO ABOUT 12 FT TALL.SOME ARE HAVING VERY SMALL LEAVES AND ARE STRUGGLING.I HAVE NOTICED ON THE TRUNKS, THE BARK IS SPLITTING AND UNDER THE SPLITS THE TREE IS SCARED. I BELIEVE I SEED TING BUGS IN THESE AREAS. THE BARK ALSO LOOKS BLOTCHY.THE TREES ARE ABOUT 4 " IN DIAMETER. WHAT COULD THIS BE. WE ARE IN KENTUCKY.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

Answer
Sounds like an insect called a borer. I would spray the wounded  area with an insecticide called Merit. This will kill the borer in the trunk. Make sure the tree has 1 inch of water each week (place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch in it stop. If you have not done so mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch. This will help hold moisture.