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Problem: Nantucket Pine Tip Moth - Rhyacionia frustrana
Hosts: Scotch, Austrian and Mugo pine.
Description: The larvae of this moth are small and orange in color. They bore into the terminal and lateral shoots of two-needle pines. Injury is most severe on trees less than 6 feet. Nantucket Pine Tip Moths overwinter as pupae in the terminal buds. Moths emerge in the very early spring. They produce first generation larvae, which feed and pupate to form moths that produce second generation larvae, which develop to produce moths that produce the third and final generation in Kansas.
Recommendations: Where only small plantings are involved, usually around homes, infested tips can be pruned and discarded or destroyed.
Insecticidal spray treatments may also be considered by homeowners. General calendar dates for applying chemical control measures have been listed as periods between late April to early May, late June to early July and late July to early August for generations one, two and three, respectively. Insecticide application should be timed to coincide with the appearance of young larvae.
These dates are imprecise. Rather emergence dates and peak flight activity dates likely vary throughout Kansas as well as within general locales. And, emergence dates may vary from year to year depending on varying weather or temperature conditions. Moths may appear as early as late March. Mid- to late-April might be considered more normal.
Because Christmas tree plantation operators and nurserymen are personnel with much at
risk, they are encouraged to utilize pheromone traps to monitor the moth flights in order
to attain maximum control via the use of properly timed insecticidal spray treatments.
Trees should be sprayed 10 to 14 days after moth flight begins. A number of products are
available for control including acephate (Orthene) and carbaryl (Sevin).
References:
1. Insects and Mites Associated With Shade Trees and Woody Ornamentals, pg 39, K-State Research and Extension Pub S-85
2. “Insects That Feed on Trees and Shrubs”, Cornell University Press, pg 40
3. Common Insect Pests of Trees in the Great Plains, pg 22, Great Plains Agricultural Council Publication No. 119.
Last Update: 09/15/2003
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