What's eating my hoop pine?

Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) outdoors faces bark-boring beetles, scale insects, and occasional aphid colonies on young shoots. It is generally robust and not heavily browsed by animals, though young trees may be nibbled by rabbits or deer. Scale on branches and borers attacking stressed trees are the most damaging threats.

Brown or tan bumps on stems and branches; yellowing foliage; sticky honeydew on needles and bark Scrub light infestations with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil spray in late winter or early spring; repeat as needed

Small entry holes in bark; sawdust-like frass at the base or in bark crevices; branch dieback on stressed trees Maintain tree vigor with correct watering and avoid wounding bark; remove and destroy infested branches; no effective chemical treatment once inside bark

Clusters on new shoot tips; distorted young growth; sticky honeydew coating needles Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap to new shoots; natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings) usually keep populations in check