liquidamber - fungus?

[MiguelMC]

Greetings everyone, hopefully everyone has been able to enjoy the beautiful autumn colors.
Here my maple haven't turned full red, just more of a yellow tone, except for trident that are fairing a decent red on them.

My liquidamber however start to loose its leafs quite early and now I've come to find some of its branches tuning dark and what it seems to be some sort of mold forming.
do guys have any idea of what this might be? should I be worry about this?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

The fungus looks like pet hairs.

 

[MiguelMC]

yes there are some , but the fluffy bit doesnt look like it

 

[sorce]

Pet pee?

Seems odd the tip is ok.

It's all where a leaf used to be, yes?

Sorce

 

[Corrado]

Your other buds are healthy green. Don't worry!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Might be one of the mealy bug relatives, or an adelgid. Both are insects. Give the tree a spray with an insecticide that lists either mealy bug or adelgids on the label. Normally if the spray kills one, it will kill the other. Not true of all insects, but adelgids and mealy bug are somewhat related.