Giant Pine Scale

Giant pine scale is a tiny scale insect that lives by sucking the sap of pine, fir and spruce trees. Heavily infested trees can dry up and die from the insects feeding on the tree’s sap, impacting pine trees in parks, softwood plantations and residential properties if not properly managed.

There are currently no effective chemical treatment options available for giant pine scale.

Giant pine scale infested trees can be easily recognised by the white, cotton wool-like wax the insect produces that looks like snow on the tree’s trunks and branches. While the insect typically prefers the lower part of the tree (i.e. trunk), it can also be found on branches and exposed roots.

If you find giant pine scale on a pine, spruce or fir tree in the ACT report it to ACT Biosecurity by emailing ACTBiosecurity@act.gov.au.

If you have clear photographs, email them with a brief explanation as well as location and contact details to ACTBiosecurity@act.gov.au.

People can also unintentionally spread Giant pine scale when moving infested plant material (e.g. branches, mulch and logs), using contaminated gardening equipment and carrying it on clothing, machinery and cars. It is important to practise good plant and equipment hygiene to avoid spreading Giant pine scale.