crataegus...tell me something as you seem to be knowledgeable about trees. I do not know a botanist personally maybe you or one of my crappie.com members will know. At this time of year you see a lot of little branches cut off of hardwood trees lying all over the ground with a circular cut at the base of the branch. I notice this mostly on oak, pecan and hickory trees. This occurs this time of the year only about the time squirrels starts cutting nuts. All my life I though it was the squirrels cutting these branches off. I was told by a hunting friend the other day it was a type of worm doing this. I am somewhat skeptical and was hoping someone would know and could point me in the direction with some documentation. My friend is the type that would believe his is right...so I would have to prove it to him. Thanks for any help.