Of course I didn't take a photo (pictures now added)

[ancee]

Yesterday I was walking past my small pear tree when I noticed something which looked like new white flower buds just breaking through. They were along a branch and not on the tips where the leaves are. On closer inspection I saw that it was a flap the same colour and texture of the branch but when I peeled it back white candy floss stuff stretched out and then some blood! There were quite a few of these weird flaps and I was busily peeling them all off - very sticky when I realised I should've taken a photo so that somebody might know what they were. Any ideas anyone? The branch is a about a pencil thick and the flaps were about half the size of my small finger nail. Once I peeled them up the candy floss stretched so I guess this was what was attaching the creature to the tree and once I pulled it I must have killed it - hence the blood Please tell me I haven't killed a 'goody' just 'baddies'!!

[chefgage]

Have you been at the wine?

[Alison]

Think I definitely need a photo for that as it doesn't sound like anything I've ever encountered.

[ancee]

I've been googling all day! Nothing matches. I'll pop out and see if I've missed picking one off... and no, I haven't been at the wine!

[ancee]

Found one that I'd missed! Phew! Not going mad! Can you see the blood???? They sit flush with the branch of the tree, the only give away is that a little bit of white just peeps out. If you prise it back it stretches like candy floss - or chewing gum and blood comes out!!!! :O
it was very hard to get an angle in the tree with my stupid camera phone by the way!

[ancee]

This has seriously creeped me out - I keep washing my hands ugh!

[fishpond]

Just a guess---Woolly Aphid.
But whatever it is please keep it in Doncaster.

[bearded bloke]

Oooer missus,maybe a spiders nest



Retitled so previous viewers are aware

[ancee]

Thanks for that BB I want as many people to have a look so we can figure this out. ugh, ugh and ew

[boundtothesoil]

No idea what this could be - never seen it before. What about having a closer look at whatever is inside the structure, maybe with a magnifying glass? For example, seeing whether it is it a grub/caterpillar, or an adult insect/spider/mite. I like bearded bloke's idea of a spider's nest. It does have the look of some kind of protective cell for a young something or other, rather than something that's on the move. Then there's the question of whether or not it'is going to damage your pear tree.

[andy_j]

It could possibly be scale insect which attack many native trees.

[DiggerSean]

I think Andy is right, some sort of scale insect. Never seen them on pear before but seen plenty on acers. Looks like a fluted scale insect but photo isn't too clear.

[starloc]

Definately scale insect, kill the shell covered foam lumps of insects with methylated spirits on a cotton bud , there will be millions more you cant see running everywere on the plant, spray with a mix of sunflower oil/water ( and tiny tiny bit of dishwash liquid to make it mix)

[DuncanM]

I had something very similar (but without the white foam/candyfloss) on my blackcurrant bushes, and didn't think too much of it until now. just searched for it and it appears I did/do have a brown scale infection one of my currants. Also I noticed this when searching for them - check the image near the bottom of the page: FruitDisease - Entomology, Ribes pests

[ancee]

Found it on my blackcurrants now too Also being attacked by sawflies on the blackcurrants and gooseberries = decimated Fennel is entirely covered in tiny white flies, I actually thought it was sawdust. Never seen anything like it. Nothing last year and this year we are being attacked by everything and his wife!!!