Is this a parasite? Please take a look.

[jillyjill]

Hi again. Can anyone offer some help/advice? I noticed yesterday that something slimy is stuck to the bark of one of my favorite trees. I have no idea what this is or if I should do something about it. I'm worried that it's some sort of life-sucking parasite. Help!

Thanks,
jill

 

[treemandan]

See? Now that is something you should be really worried about. Looks as though it came down on a meteor from outer space. Its gonna ooze into the house while you are watching TV and assimulate you. Not like that lichen stuff.
No, its gumosis. Lots of hybrid cherry tree have that. Its brought on by stress and old age. I am not sure there is much to do about it. Keep an eye on the health of the tree. Be nice to the roots, not very much mulch. If its nursery stock the roots are most likely all wound up and tangled from being in a pot and that adds stress over the years.
Like I said, don't add a lot of mulch, let the ground dry out and don't beat up the roots. If you notice a lot of die back this year call someone to look at it.

 

[jillyjill]

Gumosis, whew, I think

See? Now that is something you should be really worried about. Looks as though it came down on a meteor from outer space. Its gonna ooze into the house while you are watching TV and assimulate you. Not like that lichen stuff.
No, its gumosis. Lots of hybrid cherry tree have that. Its brought on by stress and old age. I am not sure there is much to do about it. Keep an eye on the health of the tree. Be nice to the roots, not very much mulch. If its nursery stock the roots are most likely all wound up and tangled from being in a pot and that adds stress over the years.
Like I said, don't add a lot of mulch, let the ground dry out and don't beat up the roots. If you notice a lot of die back this year call someone to look at it.

Hi and thanks again for both the info and the laugh! I think this tree has been around since 1995 (when the prior owners redesigned the driveway). The tree has looked healthy since I moved into the house almost 3 years ago. Now, not so much. Some of the branches look like they are dying with bark flaking off. I'll take another couple of photos tomorrow. My poor tree!

 

[Tree Pig]

just a guess but Cytospora canker maybe?

 

[Mark Janet]

Re :Is this a parasite? Please take a look.

Hi,
How is this again, its a parasite and its very bad for tree. Please try to remove from tree.

 

[rarefish383]

I would tend to agree with Treemandan on the big globs of sap, but the pic with the 2 or 3 small holes oozining look like Bores. I'd go to the local hardware or garden center, not Home Depot or the other big ones, maybe Ace, and ask for a systemic insecticde for bores. Bores are the larval stage of several different kinds of insects. They eat the cambium under the bark. If they eat all the way around a limg or trunk they can kill the tree. If they are not bores, the treatment will not hurt the tree. Some times as these trees start to get older and decline they become more prone to develop these problems. I often plant ornamental trees with a plan to replace every 15 years. Once they start to get too big they out grow the landscaping. Don't feel guilty if you decide to start over with a smaller, cuter one that's not showing signs of decline, Joe.

 

[TreeWizard]

Cytospora canker is generally found in Spruce trees.

Your tree looks like a Birch from the looks of the bark, and the damage may be from Bronze Birch Borer, as already suggested a good systemic insecticide will take care of it.

 

[TreeWizard]

On second observation I think the bark looks more like Cherry and Gumiosis is most likely the cause.