It looks like the damage from insect pests known as twig girdlers or possibly twig pruners. See the linked info sheet from U of Miss for details about both of them.

Twig Girdlers and Twig Pruners Info sheet From Missouri Ext Service

Yes, that is a twig girdler. Make sure you gather up all the twigs and burn them or dispose of them so the next generation of young girdler in the twig does not emerge next summer and do even more damage.