One of our largest Ocotillos was taken by flat head borers 🙁 . This guy was right outside the dining room window and has been used as a resting spot for many birds much to the delight of our cats. I’m especially sad to see it go as it’s been the source of some of my best bird and sunrise shots.

It had been under stress ever since it had to be moved when the house was built. Then last year a micro burst blew it over and since then, it hasn’t looked good. If I had looked closer, I would have seen little holes up and down the stalks. I started snapping off the obvious dead stalks and this is what I found. Ewwww!

Lesson? If some of your Ocotillo stalks haven’t leafed out while neighboring stalks have, start looking for small round holes. If you see these holes, you likely have an infestation of Ocotillo borers.