Question
The underside of numerous needles are black. They have the look of being "burned" or scorched. In addition there are numerous black ants on the trunk and needles. Additionally there are flying insects that appear to be spider wasps.Is this a fungus or disease?

Answer
Sounds like aphids. These are small soft bodied insects that suck the plant juices from the plant and secrete a sticky substance called honeydew. This is high in sugar content and the ants will harvest the honeydew for food. A fungi called sooty mold will grow on the honeydew causing the foliage to look black. If there is sap dripping and the foliage is sticky then this is aphid damage. Control the aphids and the ants and fungi will go away.

Chemical Control - Systemic Insecticides Several systemic insecticides are useful in aphid control. Aphids have sucking mouthparts and are thus very susceptible to pesticides located in the plant vascular system. Some of the systemic insecticides also have contact activity. Systemic insecticides include: acephate (Orthene).

Normally tree are too tall to spray with most spray equipment since all foliage will need to be wet with the spray. There is a newer systemic insecticide that is applied to the soil and the tree takes it up into its system and when the aphids sucks the juices they are killed.  Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control) is a newly available systemic insecticide that can provide aphid control on trees for several months following application to the soil.