PestMedium Severity

Nantucket Pine Tip Moths

Rhyacionia frustra

A moth pest whose larvae kill the tips of terminals and lateral branches by boring into needles, buds, and twigs. Young pines can be seriously deformed and occasionally killed, with some trees killed back to a foot below terminal growth.

Peak Season: Adult emergence: Early April through JuneEgg laying: On new growth during emergence periodEgg incubation: 1-3 weeks depending on weather and temperatureLarval feeding: 3-4 weeks in bud and stem tissuesGenerations per year: 1 in New York, 2 in Pennsylvania, 3 in Virginia, 4 in Georgia and California
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Nantucket pine tip moth damage showing characteristic tip browning and larval tunneling

Identification & Symptoms

What to Look For

Tips of terminals and lateral branches killed by larval boring
Larvae boring deep into base of needles and buds
Boring damage extending into twig tissues
Young pines seriously deformed from repeated tip kill
Some trees killed back to a foot below terminal growth
Webbing at shoot tips where larvae feed

Potential Damage

Serious deformation of young pine trees
Growth reduction from terminal kill
Multiple branching from loss of apical dominance
Occasional tree mortality in severe cases
Economic losses in pine plantations and Christmas tree operations
Reduced timber quality from deformation

Lifecycle

Overwintering pupae in damaged terminals and ground litter emerge as moths in early April through June. Females lay eggs on needles, buds, and new shoots. Larvae feed 3-4 weeks after hatching, first on surfaces then boring into shoot tips. Multiple generations per year vary by location.

Professional Treatment Approach

1

Imicide applications targeting egg laying and early larval stages

2

Time treatments with adult emergence in early spring

3

Multiple applications may be needed for successive generations

4

Systemic Imisol treatments for season-long protection

5

Address predisposing factors: drought stress, poor site conditions

Recommended Mauget Products

Imicide

Professional-grade treatment specifically effective against nantucket pine tip moths.

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Imisol

Professional-grade treatment specifically effective against nantucket pine tip moths.

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