Scots Pine help

[Gbhphoto77]

In a word NO! Not normal for pines to back bud on old/bare branches but some few pine species do. If letting tree grow bigger bareness of inner lowest branches not much matter . Have personal suspicion "yellowness" of needles is lighting or photography rather than bugs.

Yes sir!. I took the shot at sunset. So the light is actually the culprit

 

[HardBall]

There is a chance you could get back buds on those branches but not predictably or reliably. The technique to use is to pinch back the strongest growing candles on the exterior pushing energy to the interior. Probably sometime in May/early June for you (before the needles open). This will help balance the energy across the tree. Make sure you give it all the sun you can. Nice little tree!