White mold or insect?

[Keithconn]

Hi all

Have a privet that has white stuff on the trunk. Was a couple of spots and now has really spread. I have some pics. First is the trunk and second is a close up of the ‘stuff’. Can’t tell if it’s webby or not.

This is a big tree that I value so I don’t want to see it get sick. I also don’t want something spreading if it’s spreadable.

Any help would be great.
Thanks a bunch! -Keith

 

[Paradox]

Could be wooly adelgids

 

[Keithconn]

I was thinking wooly aphids?

 

[Shibui]

Pretty sure that adelgids live on pines but maybe there are some I don't know.
Much more likely to be woolly aphid IMHO but in the end it probably does not make any difference to treatment.
Treatment options:
Alcohol sprayed or wiped on will kill them. It's safe for you, the tree and any other critters around but can only kill those you can see and get the alcohol onto.
Contact insecticide will kill those you can see but some woolly aphids live underground on the roots so more soon come up from under the soil.
Quickest, easiest, surest treatment is a systemic insecticide. Systemics get into the sap and circulate right through the plant. Anything that tries to bite the tree will die so it will get any above or below ground. Don't use systemic when tree is near flowering because it can also kill the bees that come to the flowers.

 

[rockm]

Wooly aphids. Now's the time for them. They live on just about anything. Systemics are the best control, but I track them down and squish them. They do attack roots, though.

 

[Paradox]

I know they exist, but I personally never seen wooly aphids here but I suppose it does make more sense.
Had lots of other aphids without wool, white, green, brown and black aphids.
Not sure on the pine vs not pine with adelgids. I have seen a few wooly adelgids (or what I thought were adelgids) on some of my pines on occassion.
Never seen any that covered a tree to that extent though....yikes!

 

[Betula1]

Most likely its Mealy bugs https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/mealybug