Insect ID

[TreeMonkee58]

These dogwoods we’re healthy this spring, now they are dead and or dying. Large patches of bark are flaking off and the wood has burrows. I saw these insects in the top photo under the bark.

 

[Jed1124]

Pill bug.

It’s feeding on dead plant material. They don’t harm live trees.

The bore holes are most likely due to Dogwood Borer.

 

[TreeMonkee58]

So the next question is what killed the trees.

 

[Jed1124]

Could be a variety of things. Dogwood Borer is the main pest of Flowering Dogwood. Could be sun-scald from the pic. Could be some type of fungal canker. Without being on site and looking at the tree in person it's hard to say. I get people who send me pictures all the time, and my answer is usually, "when is a good time for me to stop by and take a look". Historic Tree Care is in North Carolina. Not sure if he is close to you. Guy is a bit of an eccentric, but he knows his trees and tree preservation. Give him a call, maybe he can come by and take a look.