Black spots on Japanese Black Pine

[Rustyck]

Hey everyone,
In my haste it looks like I picked up my first Japanese black pine with some issues, only noticed today when clearing out old needles

The black spots are throughout the tree



And on the Old needles



After I noticed some black spots on the needles and also something that looks like webbing around the base of the needles



I wasn’t sure if the webbing was normal but I got concerned as the night before I was reading a care guide and noticed the black spots:
http://www.batemansbaybonsai.com.au/Bon ... lackPines/

And I read this: The most problem pests for black pine are red spider mite, mealy bugs and aphids. A way of detecting spider mite is that the needles will have small black specks on them.

The good news is that it’s my first JBP so I definitely know what to look for in the future.

Any advice on treatment?

[pebble]

The first photo I would have thought was scale, but I’m no expert.
And if you think you have spider mites, take a sheet of paper put under a branch and shake the branch and if there are dots on you paper and they start to move after a few seconds then it’s probably spider mites.

Treatment for scale and spider mites are the same, insecticidal soap. Washed of after 24hours and applied twice a week until infestation is gone


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[Watto]

The photos don't really tell the story, but if you can crush or remove the black spots on the needles, its scale.
In either case I would give it a spray with an insecticide like confidor and another spray in two weeks. Assessment after that would then be appropriate.
And I must say thanks, I didn't know there was "Batemans Bay Bonsai" so will have to pay them a visit.

[Rustyck]

Thanks Pebble and Watto!
Looks like it’s scale as I had it over my hands after removing the old needles.

I took more photos before I saw Watto’s reply





That batesman bay website has a pretty good rundown on information on a few different types

Is the white webbing normal around the base of the needles?
That’s probably why I was concerned too as the paper test failed.

New to JBP so that doesn’t help, truth be told I went looking for a maple and found this “retired” bonsai clearance and he had hundreds of large JBP and ran out of maples.
(I wonder how many of his trees have scale!)

Fell for this root over rock small pine, when I should have got a training one!



Thanks for your help, looks like I’m making a trip to Bunnings today!

Want to get this in good health before I start removing the wrapping


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[Ryceman3]

Is the white webbing normal around the base of the needles!

I think the webbing you are referring to is the sheath at the point where the needles and the branch meet, which is entirely normal. It is definitely scale (the black dots), should recover fine after treatment.

[Rustyck]

Thanks everyone!


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[shibui]

I agree with Ryceman that the white webbing around the base of those needles is the sheath and perfectly normal but look out for white fluff on the trunk and branches. That would indicate pine bark adeljid which can sneak up and debilitate the tree. Systemic insecticide seems to be the best treatment if you end up with adelgids.

[tgward]

https://www.forestryimages.org/browse/d ... um=5369701

possibly this

[Rustyck]

Managed to get some confidor from a mitre 10 in Sydney CBD.
Thanks again everyone


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[Rustyck]

Going to start with a soap wash first and see from there


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[subie23]

I have the same issue and earlier this week spray eco-oil and today checked the black scale still stick to the needle. Do I need to scrub the scale off the needle or will it come off the needle over time?

Subie

[KIRKY]

If they are dead they will come off eventually. I usually just scrap them off my trees as I come across them don’t bother with sprays unless the tree is fully infested.
Cheers
Kieky