What is Going On with this Little Spruce

[g_man]

In walking my woodlot this spring I am seeing some young Spruce with the tips of the branches dead. Like this - wonder what it is ?? Thanks



 

[g_man]

Hmmmm............. Unusual to have no comment.

[sprucebunny]

Spruce bud worm ?

Some of mine have it, too.
I nip off the damaged ones. Doesn't seem to have a long term affect (other than to those affected buds) or kill the trees.

[ST Ranch]

Hard to tell without a close up picture of the damage, but my first guess is spruce gall aphid.
Parent insect [ahpid] lays eggs in fall and in spring, young hatch feeds on new needle growth, causing damage to needles which then deform and grow into the gall [cone like looking structure]  -  Problem is when they attack the tree leader and damage the bud, the tree can fork or crook, each time the damage occurs.
Tom

[Clark]

I was interested in this one but without closer pictures it is difficult to tell what is going on. I have my doubts about spruce budworm because the balsam behind the spruce is fine and they are typically hit first and harder than the spruce.

Clark

[SwampDonkey]

Gall midge (a tiny fly), causes disfiguring, usually non-fatal to tree.  Controlled/eaten by wasps. ;)

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fid/june02/midge.html

[g_man]

Thanks for the info - I have twice the balsam I do spruce and it is only on the spruce. And only here and there - not wide spread or concentrated but I didn't know what to expect next. The damage does look like cone structures. The tree in the poor picture I took was the only one I saw where the leader was affected.
Seems there is no end to the list of pests out there. Gall midge or aphid is a new one for me. Glad it is not fatal.
Thanks again

[SwampDonkey]

Pineapple shaped galls would be the adelgid. Not fatal either. I've had them in yard trees for years and them trees are over 100 years old. ;)

[thecfarm]

g_man,how right you are about the pests.  :( Be them real small or real big.