Question
WHAT  CAUSES  MAJOR LIMBS TO FALL TO BASE , FOUND A SMALL BUG UNDER BARK  A LITTLE  BIGGER THAN  A PIN HEAD WITH FANGS '  THIS IS A  MATURE  TREE APPROX 60 FT TALL  LOCATED 60MI EAST OF HOUSTON TEX WE ARE IN A DROUGHT COND THANK  YOU  RON

Answer
Dear R. C., I think you have several issues going on with this pecan tree.  Unfortunately, the worst problem is going to be the drought.  I also live in Texas, and this has been the hottest, driest summer on record, worse than even the dust bowl.  I drive by a pecan orchard out here and daily I see more and more dead areas.  There simply isn't enough ground water to sustain everything.  So you would see more limbs dropping this year than normal.  Pecans often drop limbs as a feature of their growth habit, but it usually is only a limb or two during high winds.  Ok, that being said, I am curious about the bug with fangs.  I am thinking that you are either looking at a pecan weevil, which has a long snout or possibly a borer.  The pecan weevil actually bores holes in the pecan itself making a perfectly round small hole in the side of the nut.  It doesn't affect the limbs.  Borers, most of which are generally larger than the bug you describe, could also be causing the damage.  Look on the fallen limbs to see if you see round holes on the limbs which would indicate borers.  As far as spraying, you could spray with Sevin or carbaryl which should help with borers and the weevils.  You would need to spray thoroughly every 10 to 14 days.  Unless you have special equipment, I would advise hiring a professional sprayer because pecans are so large and so tall and it is almost impossible to cover them with normal home spraying equipment.  My best guess as to what is going on is that you have weevils present as this is the time of year they are present and you have extra limbs falling because of the drought.  Hopefully we will have a wetter fall and winter and your damage will be minimal.  Good luck, and write back if you have further questions.  Melissa