I live in Southern California and noticed a hole in the base of my ~40' tall, ~9" diameter liquid amber tree. Then I noticed (VERY) black ooze (sap?) coming out of two knots. Before I got a photo to show my local garden center, it rained and the black washed away. I took samples of what came out of the hole (~5" wide x 8" tall x 4" deep into the tree...yes, about half way) to them and they noted termite damage. Other than the hole and the ooze, the tree looks healthy. How can a live tree have termites? The person who trims our trees told me it has to come down...cannot be saved. He said some worms (didn't catch the name) infected it via the roots, then the termites took over opportunistically. Does this make sense? Do I have to have the tree cut down? Thanks for any wisdom/advice.
Please send me any termite attacks on living plants & or food crops. My e-mail is glenngordon27@gmail.com thanks. The Formosan are 1 of 2 that like to attack live plants.
