Knowledgebase
Fungus on upon Ponderosa pine #878636
Asked July 24, 2024, 5:37 PM EDT
I may not be looking hard enough but I cannot find anything similar to this. However, it appears to me to be a fungus of some sort. I have included a photograph with this question.
El Paso County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello Robert,
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension with your question. It actually appears that you have Woolly Pine Adelgids. They are a type of aphid that feed on the phloem of the tree that contains sugar and water. They secrete these white, waxy threads that you are seeing. Typically they do not cause much damage to the tree and are quite common. If you are mainly just seeing them on this one pine cone, you can remove that cone.
Happy gardening,
Allisa Linfield
Horticulture Coordinator, CSU Extension El Paso County
