Looks like spitter bugs get you gob of white stuff on fingers go through gob to find small Bug. I'd take wad paper towels remove all white stuff bugs be close to bark put in used grocery bag into trash. Bug very small side white mask they create.

Spittle bug looks like foam. this looks like cotton. Mrs. G

1 qt spray bottle of water and add a tablespoon of dawn. I carry it through my fruit trees and liberally use it on this type stuff. Works great. Good luck, Bill

I'll refer you to a Google Search:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/feeling-fruity/fluffy-white-growth-apple-tree_19640.html

Buy a paint brush and sweep them into a bucket of PineSol. Don't spray the PineSol on the trees, it's too strong.

Woolly apple aphids. If so, the white stuff is somewhat cottony whereas if spittlebug, the stuff is wet!

If woolly apple aphids, know that they have a complex life cycle with some of the critters on the roots year-round.

This post was edited by jean001a on Sat, Jun 7, 14 at 20:13

That could be woolly apple aphid. It's more white material than usual but it looks something like that. If WAA there will be purplish colored aphids under all that waxy material.

Thanks for the help. It isn't wet. I think it's apple aphids then. Here's a close up.

Wooly aphid. A quick pass with a butane lighter makes the wax burn good and gives them a satisfying death. Hope your tree is on M111 or some other resistant rootstock, as your soil has them and will stunt non-resistant trees.