Black mold on Japanese black pine

[Forestcat]

I have a Japanese black pine with the old needles covered in a black sooty substance, denser towards the branch. The local county extension service doesn't know what it is. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[mwar15]

Location? Photos?

 

[AJL]

Could be sooty mould growing on honeydew excreted by aphids or adelgids

 

[Potawatomi13]

This was on 2 collected Ponderosas I got a few years ago. With sunshine, normql good care this dissipated and trees outgrew it. Possibly could spray with fungicide if concerned and no bugs present..

 

[Forestcat]

Okay, thanks.