Thanks to neighbours Ken and Linda for explaining what’s happened to this Ash. “Bark beetles lay their eggs under the bark of dead trees. When the eggs hatch the larvae feed … under the bark and leave characteristic galleries as they move forward … Once they are full size they pupate and emerge as adult beetles to start it all off again. Woodpeckers find this secret food supply by pecking away the dead bark, then feed on the larvae, pupae and adult beetles.
This is probably the work of Hylesinus crenatu, the Large Ash Bark Beetle.
Picture taken February 9.
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