Pine sheath miner
42 host plants
Last updated
You will notice needles drooping or pointing sharply outward from pine shoots with brown or tan discoloration. Larvae mine inside needles then feed within sheaths, causing needles to loosen and drop. Orange larvae are sometimes visible inside partially consumed needles. Lodgepole and western white pines are preferred hosts. Damage is primarily cosmetic.
No chemical control is justified for this cosmetic pest. Remove heavily infested branches if appearance matters. Prune dead needles to improve aesthetics. Natural parasitoids attack larvae. Maintain tree vigor through proper care. Small ornamental pines may show more noticeable damage than large established trees. Most pines tolerate infestation without health impact.