--- title: What Are the Rows of Small Holes in My Tree's Bark? url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/what-are-the-rows-of-holes-in-my-tree-bark/ business: Battle Born Tree Service address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 phone: 775.232.8243 hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood) --- - [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/) - [Questions and answers](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/) - [Tree health and problems](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/) - What are the rows of small holes in my tree's bark? # What are the rows of small holes in my tree's bark? Orderly horizontal or vertical rows of small holes are the work of sapsuckers, a type of woodpecker that drills for sap. Insect exit holes are typically deeper and scattered at random. ## Rows versus random Ohio State University's BYGL bulletin says sapsucker holes are arranged in orderly rows, either around the trunk or up and down it, while insect exit holes are typically deeper and appear randomly on tree stems. The pattern is the main clue. A borer hole may also have fine sawdust, called frass, at the entry or on the ground below, and the tree often shows other signs, such as dieback, oozing or loose bark. ## How serious are sapsucker holes? The bulletin says the effect of sapsuckers on trees has long been debated. Later research found they tend to select stressed or damaged trees, which calls into question their role as a primary threat. So the birds may be a symptom, not the cause. Very heavy feeding can girdle a limb, so a tree with many rings of holes is worth a look. A healthy tree with a few rows usually carries on. ## When to have it checked Have the tree looked at if the holes are scattered, if there is sawdust or pitch, if the crown is thinning or if a conifer shows reddish needles; see [bark beetles in pines](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-guide/bark-beetles-in-pines/). Borers and beetles are about identification and the prune-or-remove decision for us; we do not spray. Take a close photo of the holes and the bark, a wider one of the tree and one of the crown, and send them with the [estimate form](https://battleborntreeservice.com/free-estimate/), or call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). An arborist visit tells you which it is. If you see the bird at work, the question is half answered, and an arborist can then judge whether the tree is otherwise sound. A healthy tree with a single band of holes usually needs no work, while a thin crown or scattered holes with sawdust deserve a closer look. ### Sources - [Ohio State University BYGL: Rows of Holes in Tree Bark](https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2627) (read October 17, 2026) ### Talk to the office [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) | Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered | Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service. [Free estimate](#quote) ### Keep reading - [Bark beetles in pines](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-guide/bark-beetles-in-pines/) - [How to tell if a tree is dead or dying](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/is-my-tree-dead-or-dying/) - [Arborist consultation](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/arborist-consultation/) - [Root and trunk decay](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-guide/root-and-trunk-decay/) - [Tree health and problems questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/) ### Terms on this page [Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/arborist/) [Frass](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/frass/) [The full glossary](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/) ### All tree health and problems questions - [Tree health and problems questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/) ## Keep going: tree health and problems questions [Can a tree recover after losing half its crown?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/can-a-tree-recover-after-losing-half-its-crown/) [Why is my tree leafing out late this spring?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/why-is-my-tree-leafing-out-late/) [Should a tree hit by lightning be removed?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/should-a-tree-hit-by-lightning-be-removed/) [Why is my cottonwood dropping branches in summer?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/why-is-my-cottonwood-dropping-branches-in-summer/) [Are mushrooms at the base of a tree a bad sign?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/are-mushrooms-at-the-base-of-a-tree-a-bad-sign/) [Why are my aspen trees dying?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/why-are-my-aspen-trees-dying/) [Previous question: Why is my tree leafing out late this spring?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/why-is-my-tree-leafing-out-late/) [Next question: Should a tree hit by lightning be removed?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/should-a-tree-hit-by-lightning-be-removed/)