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Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Evergreen Trees and Shrubs > Spruce > Deformed or distorted shoots

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Spruce > Shoots/branch tips> Deformed or distorted shoots

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  • Image: Eastern spruce gall adelgid 1
  • Image: Eastern spruce gall adelgid 2
  • Image: Eastern spruce gall adelgid 3

Eastern spruce gall adelgid
Adelges abietis

  • Deformed, 3/4 to 1 inch long pineapple-like growths at the base of new growth
  • Particularly on Norway and white spruce
  • Green galls form during spring
  • Galls turn brown mid to late summer
  • Formed by adelgids (aphid-like insects)
  • More information on Eastern spruce gall adelgid
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  • Image: Cooley spruce gall adelgid 1
  • Image: Cooley spruce gall adelgid 2
  • Image: Cooley spruce gall adelgid 3

Cooley spruce gall adelgid
Adelges cooleyi

  • Deformed, 2 to 4 inch long pineapple-like growths at the ends of new growth
  • Greenish purple cone-like galls form during spring
  • Particularly on Norway blue and white spruce
  • Galls turn brown mid to late summer
  • Formed by adelgids (aphid-like insects)
  • More information on Cooley spruce gall adelgid
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  • Image: Herbicide injury 1
  • Image: Herbicide injury 2

Herbicide injury

  • Twisted, hooked or distorted needles or shoots
  • Affected needles may also become discolored
  • Young needles most severely affected
  • Damage often occurs only on the side of the tree close to herbicide application
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  • Image: Spruce gall midge 1
  • Image: Spruce gall midge 2

Spruce gall midge
Mayetiola piceae

  • Small clusters of swellings on the tips of new growth
  • Particularly on white and Black Hills spruce
  • Forms during late spring
  • Can kill individual shoots, rarely covers entire tree
  • Caused by tiny reddish brown flies (gall midges)
  • More information on Spruce gall midge

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