Association of Dogwood Borer with the Recent Decline of Dogwood

Abstract

In 1984 and 1985, 290 flowering dogwoods in Connecticut that were exhibiting symptoms of the recent decline that has affected many flowering dogwoods in the Northeast were examined in order to relate fungal leaf spots, trunk injuries, dogwood borer infestation, planting location and/or tree size to occurrence of the decline. None of these factors appears to be related to the incidence of the decline. However, dogwood borer infestation does appear to be related to the progression of the decline when greater than 30-35% of the crown is symptomatic.