What is this?

[kmdesigns]

I've had this shimpaku for awhile and it's had this ever since I've had it. It's happy and healthy, but it has all these little dead ends to some of the foliage. Can you guys tell me what it means?

 

[garywood]

It could be Phomopsis (fungus) or one of it's cousins or it could be Juniper twig girdler (insect) or it could be pet urine. Drought and mechanical damage is another possibility.
Wood
http://thingsofwood-gary.blogspot.com/

 

[Jason]

It could be Phomopsis (fungus) or one of it's cousins or it could be Juniper twig girdler (insect) or it could be pet urine.
Wood

Or it could be shaded branches, or it could be that someone used their scissors to prune, or it could be.....I'd remove it and see if it comes back.

 

[kmdesigns]

I don't think it has to do with pruning with shears because some of it is on foliage that doesn't have any pruning near it. I looked up the fungus and I don't think its that because its in small amounts and spread all over the tree, but I really don't know for sure. I couldn't find any signs of a girdler, but I did find a spider living in the apex of the tree. Could that be it? Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Vance Wood]

It's possible you are seeing the polen cones of the species. If you could manage a close up, that would be helpful.

 

[Jason]

Just saw this. Check it out (under juniper pests):
http://bonsaitonight.com/