Pine Tip Moth: Identifying Characteristics
Identifying the injury:
Pine needles of infected trees turn from green to reddish-brown and will ultimately fall off. Branch tips will be dead or dying and are often curved or tipped. Resin and fine webbing will accumulate on branch tips. Dead and damaged buds, shoots, and flowers will often be hollowed out.
Identifying the insect:
Adult pine tip moths have a wingspan of 1/2" and are 1/4" long. Their bodies are gray, copper, and red colored but it is unlikely that you will see them as they are not normally active during the day. The larvae are cream-colored caterpillars with a black head. As the larvae mature, their body turns brown to orange and grows to a length of 3/8".
Susceptible trees:
Loblolly and shortleaf pine are the favorite hosts. Sand, spruce, pond, and slash pine are sometimes attacked. Longleaf pine is rarely infected. Pine tip moths generally attack only young seedlings and saplings. Attacks are rare once trees exceed 15' in height.