Identification
The infection is most noticeable on Cooley Spruce in the spring, May to June, when the galls appear. This infection may be mistakenly diagnosed to as caused by worms, grubs, or even as a sex organ of the spruce. Spruce pollen, however is released from a smaller structure that lacks needles. The galls are characterized by this pineapple-like form, with a length of 0.5 cm to 8 cm depending on the growth capacity of the tree. Most galls take on a pink, red or even deep purple colour while the needles usually remain green. The segments of the new bud that have this gall form will die after the aphids leave in the summer. Once on Douglas-fir, the adelgids consume the needles but do not form galls.
Read more about this topic: Gall Adelgid