White cotton like substance on pine

Chris H · Post by **Chris H** » June 30th, 2012, 6:33 pm

Im sure ive seen the answer to this before on the forum. ( just cant find it )
I have white spots in and around the base of needles and along branches on a Japanese black pine.
I think it's the web of some sort of mite, I sprayed with pest oil and it seems to have stopped spreading but it's not gone away either.
I bought the tree in melbourne and saw a little bit of white spotting then but quarantined the tree when I got back from Melbourne as the problem seemed worse after the tree spent a few days in a hotel room..

Any tips?

Barry1 · Post by **Barry1** » June 30th, 2012, 7:40 pm

Please correct me if I am wrong but I am led to believe that you should not use oils on pines ...lime sulpher should clear up any fungal problem

Post by **Bougy Fan** » June 30th, 2012, 7:44 pm

Absolutey right - no oil on conifers. It clogs the stomata and they die.

Chris H · Post by **Chris H** » June 30th, 2012, 9:09 pm

Really. Use it on a fine spray. Aimed at the buggers.
Never hurt mine.
Used it all the time.

Can anyone identify the pest?

Guy · Post by **Guy** » June 30th, 2012, 9:52 pm

perhaps a jet of water--enough to remove the trouble but not strong enough to damage the tree--

Chris H · Post by **Chris H** » June 30th, 2012, 10:48 pm

Thanks Guy.
I'll give it a go.
What's the bug called ?
Do you know?

Jow · Post by **Jow** » July 1st, 2012, 10:17 am

Hartos, it's called pine mite. Down here we use Rogor mixed with clensall ( spelling?). I sometimes substitute clensall for dish washing liquid. It's nasty stuff but it's the only thing I have found that totally gets rid of them.

Chris H · Post by **Chris H** » July 1st, 2012, 2:26 pm

Hmm Rogor, it's nasty stuff, kids and dogs make me nervous of heavy pesticides.

Good to know.

AusBonsai