Mortality of eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus L.) in association with a novel scale insect-pathogen complex in Virginia and West Virginia

•White pine health is a concern in the central and southern Appalachians of the U.S.•A poorly understood scale insect and fungal pathogen cause extensive cankers.•Decline and mortality as a result of cankering is primarily found in saplings.•Observed mortality exceeds baseline mortality for multiple diameter classes.•The long term sustainability of white pine in mixed oak-pine habitat is unknown.