This started a few years ago. And I’m at my wits end. I’m in SoCal for reference. It started by attacking my peach tree. The peach tree is still alive, but it’s on its last leg. When you cut away the bark you find these tiny holes that are about the size of a mechanical pencil, surrounded by a bunch of sawdust.

The peach tree has nearly been destroyed. This bug - whatever it is - murdered my Santa Rosa plum. And it’s attacking my Shiro and Mirabelle and green gage. Neither European plums nor Asian plums seem immune. It’s also attacking my Arkansas black apple tree. Weirdly, it’s leaving the apricot completely alone, as well as some other trees in the rose family (a seedling loquat and some actual rose bushes). Thus far it has also left a pear alone, although the pear has only been in the ground for a year.

So I’m researching trying to figure out what this thing actually is and I come upon shothole borers, which apparently are decimating trees in my county. And I figure that’s a good bet. But how do I attack the pest? All the county information says is “we are doing research, hang on and we will get back to you.” So I’m thinking nematodes. But everyone then goes on to tell us re: nematodes that you have to know exactly what species it is and get the right nematodes for the species that is causing the problems. But we’ve never been able to catch one of the critters. Is there like a general purpose nematode we could try?