European pine shoot moth

European pine shoot moth larvae bore into new pine shoot tips in Western Washington, causing them to wilt and turn brown. You will see reddish-brown damage at shoot tips in early summer with entry holes and resin seepage. Affected tips eventually fail to grow and create a bushy, deformed tree. Ponderosa pine and other pines are targeted. Damage becomes obvious by mid-summer as stunted growth accumulates.

Prune out infested shoot tips below visible damage and dispose of them in sealed containers to destroy larvae. Timing pruning to remove tips before moths emerge in late summer is most effective. Maintain tree vigor through proper watering; stressed trees are more attractive to moths. Pheromone traps help monitor population timing for any insecticide decisions on valuable trees. Most landscape pines tolerate shoot loss well enough that removal of damaged tips is sufficient management.