Tiny white worms on privet trunck and lower bark.
 

There are tiny white worms (1 cm) on the lower trunk and bark
of a wild 10' high chinese privet near the east side of my
garage. The worms are under the bark and the bark has split
open for about 4'. The split is covered with a white foamy mass
and there is a large foamy mass at the base of the privet.
There is an odor of rotting apples / pears there, also.
There are no fruit trees around.
Engine degreaser does not seem to affect the worms.

Any ideas what they could be?

Thanks,
Paul

Tiny white worms on privet trunck and lower bark.
 

Paul in Houston TX wrote:
There are tiny white worms (1 cm) on the lower trunk and bark
of a wild 10' high chinese privet near the east side of my
garage. The worms are under the bark and the bark has split
open for about 4'. The split is covered with a white foamy mass
and there is a large foamy mass at the base of the privet.
There is an odor of rotting apples / pears there, also.
There are no fruit trees around.
Engine degreaser does not seem to affect the worms.

Any ideas what they could be?

Thanks,
Paul

Some sort of bark borer I guess.

Tiny white worms on privet trunck and lower bark.
 

Paul in Houston TX wrote:
There are tiny white worms (1 cm) on the lower trunk and bark
of a wild 10' high chinese privet near the east side of my
garage. The worms are under the bark and the bark has split
open for about 4'. The split is covered with a white foamy mass
and there is a large foamy mass at the base of the privet.
There is an odor of rotting apples / pears there, also.
There are no fruit trees around.
Engine degreaser does not seem to affect the worms.

Any ideas what they could be?

Thanks,
Paul

Soaking the tree trunks in gasoline seems to have
made the borer worms multiply and get worse.
Today I soaked the trunks and branches in
50/50 solution of used engine oil and gasoline.
Will see if they eat that.