white balls on tree branches

[mlaesch]

I have white balls all over a number of tree branches in one tree in my yard. There seem to be what look like bees flying around them but I am not sure. Like to know what this is. I have attached a picture. thx.

[applestar]

What kind of tree is it. Are the branches dead? Could the white balls be fungus/mushroom-like?

Alternatively, do the balls look like cocoons? (ex. Mulberry tree / silkworm)

[imafan26]

Get a hand lens and look at the balls closer. They look a little like mealy bugs. Mealy bugs form dense colonies on leaf bases and stems. There are also some on the leaf as well. I could not get a high enough closeup to make out individuals.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/P ... ybugs.html