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