Nantucket Pine Tip Moth
Contact: Eric Day, Manager, Insect Identification Laboratory
ENTOMOLOGY PUBLICATION 444-238, August 1996
Nantucket Pine Tip Moth
Rhyacionia frustrana(Comstock)
Distribution and Hosts
The Nantucket pine tip moth occurs from southern New
England to Florida, west to Texas and Arkansas, and was
recently introduced into southern California. In Virginia,
it is found predominantly in the eastern part of the state.
Most two and three needled pine species are susceptible to
attack. Among the southern pines, shortleaf, loblolly, and
Virginia pines are the most susceptible. Scotch and pitch
pine are also subject to attack. Slash pine is highly
resistant and longleaf pine is virtually immune to attack.
Description of Damage
Tip moth larvae attack developing shoots of young pines
and may cause serious damage, resulting in severe stunting
and stem deformation, and in extreme cases death to the
host. Loss of tree form is common where heavy attacks
result in forks, crooks, or multiple trunks. Damage is most
severe on seedlings and saplings under five years of age.
Trees grown for special purposes, such as Christmas
trees, seed orchards, and progeny tests are often regarded
as high risks for tip moth attack. In addition, attacks can
also reduce cone crops by injuring conelets and killing
potential cone-bearing shoots.
Scots pine, note rounded, stunted growth.
Close-up of twig damage.
Bud damage, note hole in center of bud.
More bud damage, note resinous bleeding at base of bud.
Stunted branch from damage by Nantucket Pine Tip Moth.
Identification
Adult moths are small (wing length = 4 to 7 mm and wing
spread = 12 mm); the head, body, and appendages are covered
with gray scales; and the forewings are reddish-brown with
silver-gray markings. Eggs are yellow in color, and usually
are laid singly. Young larvae are cream colored with black
heads. Mature larvae are light brown to orange and about 9
mm long.
Life History
Tip moth has two to five generations/year throughout
its range, with two to three generations occurring in
Virginia. Adult emergence for each generation is
synchronized with new growth flush from its primary host.
The first two generations are discernible, yet overlap
occurs in the third generation.
Winter is spent as a pupa within the injured tips of
the host. In Virginia, adults emerge from late March to
mid-April. Mating occurs soon after emergence and is
mediated by a sex pheromone (female produced chemical that
attracts males). Eggs are deposited on shoots and needles,
and then hatch within 14 days. First instar larvae
frequently mine inside needles, shoots, and buds. Second
instar larvae feed at needle and bud axils, where they
construct a tent of silk covered with resin. Subsequent
instars feed inside buds and shoots. Second generation
adults emerge five to six weeks after the first generation
adults. Third generation adults emerge from late July to
early August.
Control
For forest stands, preventive measures such as planting
more than one tree species, diversifying stand structure,
fertilization, and weed control would help keep tip moth
populations down. Chemical control in forest stands is a
last resort and is usually only economically feasible in
cases where damage is especially severe and unit value of
trees is high (ie. seed orchards and Christmas tree
plantations).
Effective use of pesticides is dependent on precise
timing for spraying, which should be carried out after eggs
are laid up until second instar larvae are present.
Pheromone-baited traps may be used to determine time of
spraying. In Georgia, trees should be sprayed ten days
after the first adult moth is captured. This must be
repeated for each generation. In Virginia it is likely to
be slightly longer. Consult Haugen and Stephen (1984) for
data on tip moth development in relation to temperature.
Systemic insecticides applied to the soil can be
effective if there is adequate soil moisture for the
toxicant to be incorporated by the tree roots. Foliar
applications of pesticides can provide good control and are
usually the least expensive. Use of biological
insecticides, such as viruses or bacteria may also be
feasible. There is potential in the future for control by
disrupting adult communication and mating using synthetic
pheromone components.
Prepared by S.M. Salom, Department of Entomology, Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg,
Virginia, 24061-0319.
References
Berisford, C.W. 1988. The Nantucket pine tip moth. pp.
141-161. In A.A. Berryman (ed.). Dynamics of Forest Insect
Popualtions. Plenum Publ. Corp.
Berisford, C.W., P.M. Gargiullo, and C.G. Canalos. 1984.
Optimum timing for insecticidal control of the Nantucket
pine tip moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). J. Econ. Entomol.
77:174-177.
Haugen, D.A. and F.M. Stephen. 1984. Development rates of
Nantucket pine tip moth, Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock)
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), life stages in relation to
temperature. Environ. Entomol. 13:56-60.
Hill, A.S., C.W. Berisford, U.E. Brady, and W.L. Roelofs.
1981. Nantucket pine tip moth, Rhyacionia frustrana:
identification of two sex pheromone components. J. Chem.
Ecol. 7:517-528.
Lewis, K.R., H.M. Kulman, and H.J. Heikkenen. 1970.
Parasites of the Nantucket pine tip moth in Virginia with
notes on ecological relationships. J. Econ. Entomol.
63:1135-1139
Robinson, J.V. 1983. Nantucket pine tip moth in Christmas
tree plantations. pp. 59-61. In T.L. Payne, R.F. Billings,
R.N. Coulson, and D.L. Kulhavey (eds.). History, Status,
and Future Needs For Entomology Research in Southern
Forests. Proc. 10th Anniv. E. Texas Forest Entomology
Seminar. Kurth Lake, TX.