Larvae tunnel into the tree's water conducting vessels, causing large quantities of pinkish pitch to ooze from their entry hole.
Damage disfigures large branches and trunks and weakens the tree.
Heavily infested branches may even break. Like most borers, the pitch mass borer takes advantage of already weakened trees. Adjusting irrigation schedules and thinning over crowded areas are the most important control of this borer. Moth crystals containing paradichlorobenzene, or PDB crystals, may be inserted into borer pitch masses to fumigate larvae. Preventative trunk sprays can reduce attacks.