Pest identification
What's eating my cook pine?
Scale insects
Signs: Encrusted bumps on needles and stems; yellowing fronds; sooty mold on honeydew deposits
Control: Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap spray; target dormant sprays in late winter; repeat in early summer if reinfestation occurs
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied insects clustered on new shoot tips; distorted tender growth; sticky residue on foliage
Control: Hose off colonies with water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects by reducing broad-spectrum pesticide use
Bark beetles
Signs: Entry holes and resin bleeding on trunk; wilting or browning branch tips; frass in bark furrows
Control: Keep tree well watered and avoid mechanical trunk damage; remove infested wood promptly; no curative spray once beetles are inside
Keep cook pine pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Cook Pine pests — FAQ
What is eating my cook pine?
Cook Pine (Araucaria columnaris) is susceptible to scale insects, aphids on young growth, and bark-boring beetles on stressed specimens. Deer and rabbits may browse the lower branches of young trees. Scale is the most frequent problem in cultivation, particularly in warm, sheltered positions where natural rainfall does not wash foliage clean.
How do I get rid of scale insects on cook pine?
Encrusted bumps on needles and stems; yellowing fronds; sooty mold on honeydew deposits Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap spray; target dormant sprays in late winter; repeat in early summer if reinfestation occurs
How do I get rid of aphids on cook pine?
Soft-bodied insects clustered on new shoot tips; distorted tender growth; sticky residue on foliage Hose off colonies with water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects by reducing broad-spectrum pesticide use
How do I get rid of bark beetles on cook pine?
Entry holes and resin bleeding on trunk; wilting or browning branch tips; frass in bark furrows Keep tree well watered and avoid mechanical trunk damage; remove infested wood promptly; no curative spray once beetles are inside