Prionoxystus robiniae
Pest description and damage Carpenterworms are the larvae of a large, mottled gray and black moth whose size ranges from 1.75 to 3.0 inches in length. The caterpillars are white to pinkish red with a dark head and are 1 to 3 inches in length when mature. The caterpillars bore in the trunk and main branches. Discolored or bleeding limbs, branch dieback, and lumpy or gnarled trunks may be indications of carpenterworm infestation. Typical symptoms of elm infestation are sawdust-like material (frass) and wood chips mixed with loose webbing on or around infested trees. Trees with severe carpenterworm infestations are susceptible to wind breakage and need to be removed to reduce risk. Eventually, carpenterworm infestations may kill host trees.
For biology, life history, monitoring and management
See:
Cottonwood (Populus)-Carpenterworm
Management-chemical control
See Table 4 in: