Acer Palmatum

Can anyone help with identifying what this white sticky stuff is on my acer?

Photo attached of the white stuff that comes with a brown top. It seems to be spreading from the main trunk up to the branches.

 

i will be watching this thread cos i have same on my bay tree!

loopy

 

It is probably scale insect

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/...e.aspx?pid=224

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Scale1.jpg/320px-Scale1.jpg

yup, scale insect, I had some on one of my trees

 

Scale insect indeed. Mainly an aesthetic problem rather than anything else, although I suppose tree growth can be retarded if the insects much the leaves and the tree can't photosynthesize as much as normal. They'll go eventually of their own accord but you could try a pesticide if you're really worried about it, or use a weak washing up liquid solution to gently wash the scales off the stems.