Why Do You Have Pecan Twigs on the Ground

By Aubie Keesee

Hughes County Extension Educator Ag / 4-H / CED

I have already began receiving calls about pecan twigs on the ground.  This is a pretty typical question for this time of year.  There can be several causes, but the most common is the work of the twig girdler.  The twig girdler is commonly found on pecan, elm, hickory and persimmon trees.  However, we tend to notice them more when they become a problem in our beloved pecan trees.  The main symptoms of the twig girdler are fallen branches with a smooth cut that look like they have been sawed off.  Twigs with a diameter of ¼ to ½ inch are most commonly girdled, but branches up to 2 inches may be affected.  The fruiting area of heavily infested pecan trees is often greatly reduced, resulting in low nut yields the following year and sometimes longer. Since the twig girdler larvae live in the twigs, the best way to control them is to gather and burn the fallen twigs and branches.  Spraying is generally not cost effective and has shown little control for these insects.

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