What made these holes?

[Howsitgoineh]

Figured this may be the best place to pose this question, I have seen various bug holes, and woodpecker holes.
But not like this.. it appears to be a series of holes all approximately 1/8" diameter, in a linear form. It's a maple tree, not 100% sure what species.
Any ideas what creature would have done this?

 

[Seachaser]

Sapsucker. Harmless.

 

[diver64]

Sapsucker or Pileated Woodpecker would be my guess. I've sat on my deck and watched one go after a tree like that stopping to listen every couple of holes.

 

[Howsitgoineh]

Thanks guys. Looking at the holes I was concerned about the health of the tree. Glad to know it's benign

 

[Westboastfaller]

Thanks guys. Looking at the holes I was concerned about the health of the tree. Glad to know it's benign

Sapsuckers. Usually that pattern is because some beetle larva move in that pattern eating the cambium layer as they mature. One attack will not be enough to girdle the tree and kill it. It is a series of stagard hits above and below that cuts of the cambium layer (food passage of the tree)
The escalating birds hear them underneath.

On the first pic, it looks like another attack about 6" above to the left?

Idk what would attack a Maple with that pattern. Asian Long Horn Beetle but they lay eggs on twigs but do go in the trunk soft tissues. Idk enough about them.
MPB and other pine beetles have been known to go into other species.
Anymore obvious patterns further up?

 

[diver64]

I see them go after softwoods more than hardwoods but they will on any tree if there are bugs underneath. They will also get fixated on metal chimney pipe.

 

[Howsitgoineh]

Sapsuckers. Usually that pattern is because some beetle larva move in that pattern eating the cambium layer as they mature. One attack will not be enough to girdle the tree and kill it. It is a series of stagard hits above and below that cuts of the cambium layer (food passage of the tree)
The escalating birds hear them underneath.

On the first pic, it looks like another attack about 6" above to the left?

Idk what would attack a Maple with that pattern. Asian Long Horn Beetle but they lay eggs on twigs but do go in the trunk soft tissues. Idk enough about them.
MPB and other pine beetles have been known to go into other species.
Anymore obvious patterns further up?

The second photo is the attack pattern you are seeing in the left side of the first photo. Wasn't able to get a good shot of it that day, it was freezing and wind was howling. Also I am short so I barely caught any if it in the frame. I'll post a couple more and have a look for any other noticeable damage in the bark

 

[Howsitgoineh]

Here's a couple I tried to get a bit closer up. This goes al little bit over half way around the trunk. Had a good look today, no other areas like this on the tree. I just dead limbed and pruned it this afternoon

 

[Seachaser]

We’ve got trees that were planted in the 1930’s with them. Typical of non flaky bark.

 

[Okie]

Sapsuckers. I've seen them do that on most all kinds of trees, Oaks, even pine trees.

I sometimes think them sapsuckers are marking their territory. (seeing who can pee the furthest)
I've seen trees where the sapsucker stopped doing such and the bark would eventually heal but leave the scars.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

I have that on an old pecan and a younger silver maple in the yard.

 

[esean]

As their name suggests, sapsuckers are after the tree sap itself, not any beetle larvae underneath. They will eat insects that are drawn to the sweet sap though. Sugar maples are one of their favorite targets. I frequently see their rows of holes on shagbark hickories too. The dripping sap is also a significant food source for hummingbirds.

 

[ATpro]

Had a call one time to help cruse a plot of timber for a logging CO. Started out good until we ran up on a dead snag with a family of red headed woodpeckers. That was the end of that cruse and we had to explain to the landowner that we couldn't cut his timber as long as those Peckerwoods lived in that tree.

We carried him and showed the tree and told him as long as that tree was there and those Peckerwoods were around we couldn't cut his timber. Saw him a few weeks later and I ask him how his Peckerwoods was doing, he said he sent them an eviction notice and they must have got the message. He said he cut the tree down so no more squatters could move in.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Had a call one time to help cruse a plot of timber for a logging CO. Started out good until we ran up on a dead snag with a family of red headed woodpeckers. That was the end of that cruse and we had to explain to the landowner that we couldn't cut his timber as long as those Peckerwoods lived in that tree.

We carried him and showed the tree and told him as long as that tree was there and those Peckerwoods were around we couldn't cut his timber. Saw him a few weeks later and I ask him how his Peckerwoods was doing, he said he sent them an eviction notice and they must have got the message. He said he cut the tree down so no more squatters could move in.

Greedy.