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What's that on my pine? White fluff and black 'eggs'

9 years ago

This is Pinus strobus 'Mini Twists'. I was holding the 1 gallon purchase since late spring and planted it in late October. Over winter, last year's growth is looking kind of like it is wilting (the branches were curved to start with, so that's not what I mean by wilting) - the color looks off and the branches look like they don't have enough water in them.

On top of this, last week I found lines of black something on the needles that I thought looked like insect eggs. They are not stuck on hard like scales. I pulled out all the affected needles. There's white fluffy stuff at the leaf internodes and around the buds as well. I couldn't find any obvious holes on the trunk.

Please see the pictures. Does anyone have an idea what this might be, and can it be treated? New growth is not supposed to start until late April or May.

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
need a better pic of the eggs.. and a scale ... and if we cant ID it.. try the garden clinic forum ... there are some bug sperts over there ...

keep in mind.. there are a lot more beneficial bugs.. than bad ... so dont go hyper on removal.. until you get the ID .... [are they already cut off.. and in a plastic bag?? .. lol]

you have been holding it in a pot???? .. if so.. thats the yellow issue ... probably lack of nutrients ...

how did you protect the pot for winter.. was it in sun.. so the black pot froze and thawed all winter?????

ken
wannabegardnr
Original Author
9 years ago

Hi Ken, I didn't overwinter the plant and I did pull out every single needle I saw the things on, heh heh - didn't want to take the chance that they were eggs and would hatch. You must have been in a hurry and just looked at the photos.

However, I did miss one needle (which is now pulled out) so I was able to get the scale shot for you.

That one in sun and this one in shade

I will wait another day then try the other forum. Maybe peeps don't come here as much anymore.
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pineresin
9 years ago
The white stuff is secereted by white pine adelgid (Pineus strobi).

Resin
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
see link
link
wannabegardnr
Original Author
9 years ago
Ken, very useful link, thank you. Hopefully that problem is solved since I picked off all the eggs I could see. Just a few should not be too harmful I hope.

Resin, thank you for the id. The pictures of your diagnosis on the bug id site Ken provided match my plant. Dormant spray is recommended. How is the Bonide-All-Season-Horticultural-Spray product?

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