Trees that are already infested and that have large numbers of burr knots are particularly attractive. The larvae hatch after eight to nine days and seek entry into the plant. The burr knots consist primarily of meristematic, non-lignified root tissue that larvae can easily penetrate and feed on. On apples, the almost never enter healthy bark or pruning wounds to feed. In October and early November, the larva constructs a hibernaculum and overwinters in the larval state in this structure.
Monitoring Look for reddish frass on the surface of burr knots.
Use pheromone traps placed in trees in mid-June to detect the presence of adults and peak emergence. Control Dogwood borers can be controlled with diluted trunk applications of residual insecticides. Thorough coverage of the lower trunk and burr knots is necessary for good control. A single spray timed between first and peak egg hatch will give effective control. Evidence from New York and Michigan seems to indicate that the timing of trunk sprays may not be as crucial for dogwood borer control as it is for other borer control on fruit trees.