i'm not sure if it's a japanese maple or not; it's larger than the other ones in the landscape, but it's been here longer.

it's got one branch that at the top has a number of smaller branches that didn't leaf out last year or this year.

the bottom of that branch where it comes out from a larger portion has a lot of peeling bark.

we do have problems with pine bark beetles here...could the peeling bark and dead upper branches be from another pest that likes maples?

and whether it is from pest or not, should the branch be taken off the tree this fall/winter (or before the sap runs, whenever that is).

thanks!