Hi everyone,
I just read a post on bore beetles as well as scale- and so I thought id check on my plants and noticed some holes at the base of my tree trunks. Are these from insects? Each pic is of a different tree. They are all around 1 to 1/2 years old. I have also posted some pics of some of what I cant tell if it is scale or just the tree. I got scared last night and sprayed it with some alcohol water but it didnt really do much.. I'm hoping I am just being paranoid but I love my trees too much to just hope for the best.. if the holes are from an insect, does it mean their doom is near since the hole is so close to the ground? There was also 1 tree with a hole on top of the cut end of the tree.

I don't see any signs of any insects or scale in those photos.  If the end of a branch (or main trunk) is cut, new growth will sprout from a different node, and the top of the branch will naturally die off.  That is what you are seeing in most of the photos.  Totally normal process. If you ever think you have scale insects, just push against them firmly with something hard/sharp, and they will squish.  Won't hurt your tree.  Or you can scrape them off.  If it doesn't scrape off or squish easily, it's not scale. 

Tina -- I agree with Rob (if you're talking about the large holes and the small bumps on the bark of most of the trees.
The Ambrosia Beetle / Shothole Borer holes I've been seeing are small -- about .5mm to 2mm in diameter.
In picture #1, is it an optical illusion, or is the wire from the plant tag girdling the tree?  It looks like it is too tight and restricting the growth of the trunk.  It may be an optical illusion, but check it out.
Jim

Hi Rob and Jim,
Thanks so much for the advice. Should I seal the hole or is it safe to leave alone? This is why I stay away from WebMd!
The wire is an optical illusion but thanks for pointing it out- I forgot about the tags and luckily they are loose but I have made a mental note to check on them once in a while.
Thanks again, I will sleep soundly tonight :)
-Tina

your tree looks fine. the holes that you are seeing in the pix are either old branche/trunk with shrunk pith, or old branch cut getting healed. not borer hole. 

Thanks Pete.
I've had the trees for over a year now- I don't know why I never noticed them until now..

Hi tandmadd,
If you have clay dirt, just rub some dirt to seal the holes.
Some insects could lay their eggs in there . They would not directly attack the tree, but I prefer to keep them out. So I rub some moist clay dirt to seal those holes.
At least, if something would get in, one would spot that quickly.
In winter time, that will avoid water to get in and freeze inside .