Michigan State University Extension
MSU Extension Forestry Bulletins - 06940002
01/03/01
Diagnosing Shoot-Boring Insects of Pines
Deborah G. McCullough
Assistant Professor and Extension Forest Entomologist
Department of Entomology and Department of Forestry
Michigan State University
Many different kinds of insects feed in the shoots of pine
trees. Some insects, such as the white pine weevil, can
severely damage the growth, form or appearance of trees.
Other insects, such as the pitch nodule maker, rarely cause
serious damage. Still other insects, like the pine shoot
beetle, may cause infested trees to be regulated by state
or federal restrictions on shipping.
This flow chart is intended to help Christmas tree growers,
landscapers and foresters determine what insect has caused
damage to shoots of pine trees. Regular scouting of trees
and plantations during the growing season will help you
detect shoot borers before damaging populations can build
up. Although it is always best to actually collect the
insect causing the damage, occasionally this may not be
possible. Growers who learn to recognize the "clues" that
shoot-boring insects leave behind will be better able to
plan future scouting and pest management activities. Some
helpful clues include the location of damage on the tree,
the species and age of the damaged tree, and the time of
year that specific life stages of the insect are present.
To use the flow chart, begin by determining whether the
terminal leader or lateral shoots are damaged. It is also
very helpful to know whether the damage was caused by a
caterpillar (moth larva) or a beetle. See the
illustrations in this bulletin for examples of the life
stages of moths and beetles. Once the insect pest has been
identified, the amount of damage to the tree, field or
stand should be assessed. An integrated management plan
can then be developed to prevent economic loss while
protecting the environment. Refer to the table in this
bulletin for information on the hosts, life cycle and
control of common shoot-boring insects.
Scotch pine shoot exuding pitch, a common symptom of trees
attacked by pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda).
Photo courtesy of USDA Forest Service
North Central Regional Extension Publication No. 528
From Insect Biology by Howard Evans. Copyright 1984 by
Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. Reprinted by
permission.
North Central Regional Extension Publications are subject
to peer review and prepared as a part of the Cooperative
Extension activities of the thirteen land-grant
universities of the 12 North Central states, in cooperation
with the Extension Service-U.S. Department of Agriculture,
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this publication available.
* Publishing state
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of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Cooperative
Extension Services of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and
Wisconsin, Gail Imig, Director, MSU Extension, East
Lansing, Michigan 48824.
March 1994
NCR528
New - 7.5M - SDL - MB, 50 cents. File: 24.162 (Forest
Protection, Insects)
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