Cocoons - do they suck the life out of a plant?

[Antonia]

We have a cedar deodara that we have grown from one inch tall to over 6 feet now. Over the winter it has started to turn pale and now is getting brownish. We recently put some fertilizer spikes in the ground hoping to help it. The tree has MANY cocoons hanging all over it - almost like it has been decorated with them. Could these cocoons be the cause of the tree turning pale and now brownish - are these cocoons sucking the sap out of our tree? We thought cocoons just used the tree to attach to, but now we are befinning to wonder. Any ideas???

 

[marydmjj]

I'm not sure about the cocoons but I've seen cedars turn brown when they have spider mites. Maybe it's infested? You can sometimes tell what is eating it by holding a white piece of paper and shaking a branch. Some of whatever is eating it will fall off on the paper and you can see what it is.

Good luck.

 

[DebºoºS]

And spider mites can have white web looking things. Better spray to get rid of whatever it is before it's too late.