Very tiny black balls structures on holly tree small branches - Ask Extension
Very tiny black ball structures are completely covering all the small branches on my oak leaf holly trees and my nellie stevens holly trees. These t...
Knowledgebase
Very tiny black balls structures on holly tree small branches #874460
Asked June 24, 2024, 2:45 PM EDT
Very tiny black ball structures are completely covering all the small branches on my oak leaf holly trees and my nellie stevens holly trees. These trees were all planted 7 years ago and have been extremely healthy in the years prior to now.
What is causing these tiny black ball structures to form so heavily on every visible small branch end? Is this an insect problem? If so, what insects would cause this?
Unfortunately there are no pictures to send you.
How can this problem be treated and controlled by using lady bugs or other insects?
Whatever you can suggest will be so appreciated!!!
Thanks
Baltimore City County Maryland
Expert Response
Unfortunately we can't attempt much of a diagnosis in order to recommend treatment if we can't see the symptoms. Sometimes pests and diseases look alike, and determining which is present is key to the proper treatment approach. Are you able to take pictures to send? You can attach photo files to your reply, or paste images into the body of the reply directly. (Please have the image files be at least 1MB in size so we can see enough detail if we need to zoom-in.)
We can say that it does not sound like an issue that lady bugs can provide help for. They might be simply aborted fruits (berries that start forming and then die, which can darken and shrivel before falling off) if the plant was stressed from being too dry, or if it wasn't getting sufficiently pollinated. There are a few insects that can feed on holly, but they are not black and ball-shaped, so we'd have to see what they look like.
Miri
We can say that it does not sound like an issue that lady bugs can provide help for. They might be simply aborted fruits (berries that start forming and then die, which can darken and shrivel before falling off) if the plant was stressed from being too dry, or if it wasn't getting sufficiently pollinated. There are a few insects that can feed on holly, but they are not black and ball-shaped, so we'd have to see what they look like.
Miri
Please see the attached pictures showing the tiny bead like balls on the holly tree branches. Maybe these are insect droppings when the insects feed on the "honey due"??
Any suggestions how to cure this??
Thanks,
Jean
Hello Jean,
Thank you for the photos, though unfortunately they are too small for us to make a diagnosis. Are you able to resend larger files, or attach the pictures directly? (Please have the image files be at least 1MB in size so we can see enough detail if we need to zoom-in. If you can't attach the files, pasting them directly into the body of your reply may work instead.)
From what we can make out, they look like aborted berries, but it's hard to tell. They are not insect frass (poop; they are too large for that). We don't see any honeydew or the sooty mold often associated with it. If it is present, it's often caused by scale insects; on hollies, this scale is usually Cottony Camellia Scale or Indian Wax Scale. The former will be on the leaf undersides while the latter tends to be on the twigs or slender branches. You can send us photos of them for confirmation as well if you think you see either type of scale.
Miri
Thank you for the photos, though unfortunately they are too small for us to make a diagnosis. Are you able to resend larger files, or attach the pictures directly? (Please have the image files be at least 1MB in size so we can see enough detail if we need to zoom-in. If you can't attach the files, pasting them directly into the body of your reply may work instead.)
From what we can make out, they look like aborted berries, but it's hard to tell. They are not insect frass (poop; they are too large for that). We don't see any honeydew or the sooty mold often associated with it. If it is present, it's often caused by scale insects; on hollies, this scale is usually Cottony Camellia Scale or Indian Wax Scale. The former will be on the leaf undersides while the latter tends to be on the twigs or slender branches. You can send us photos of them for confirmation as well if you think you see either type of scale.
Miri
The pictures were taken with a cell phone -not sure how they can be improved with the available cell phone.
Can you receive actual pieces of branches that have the tiny black beads? If so where can I send a small 4" branch?
Thanks again,
Jean
The cell phone photo settings might be able to be changed so the phone saves a larger image file for photos taken, but if it can't take or save larger photos, then perhaps you can bring a sample in person to a local Master Gardener plant clinic for ID. (Or a Master Gardener volunteering there can take and send larger-format images to Ask Extension for you.) You might also be able to bring samples in person into the Baltimore City Extension office; they too can submit questions with photos on Ask Extension on behalf of residents.
Miri
Miri
