3 (1 = rare 5 = annual)

4 (1 = very little damage 5 = plants killed)

Zimmerman pine moth feeds on Scots and Austrian as well as other pines.

Tree

• Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)
• Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
• Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

The insect causes the pitch to flow from wounds on the trunk near branch whorls on Scots and Austrian pine. When feeding damage is severe at all the crotches at a particular whorl of branches, the trunk may break off at that whorl. Feeding damage at the base of branches can girdle and kill the branch, even major branches.

On Eastern white pine, this insect is a tip borer, tunneling through new shoots, causing dieback of branch tips.

Eggs hatch in late summer (August) into caterpillars that wander across the bark, eventually spending the winter under a flap of bark. In the early spring (April) they emerge and wander again across the bark before tunneling through the bark into the trunk or major branches of Scots and Austrian pine. Through the spring and summer, the caterpillar feeds as a borer, pupates, and then emergesas a moth in late summer.

Prune out damaged wood. If necessary use a recommended insecticide. Control may be done in spring when saucer magnolia is in pink bud to early bloom or in mid to late summer when panicle hydrangea is pink.

Home, Yard & Garden Pest Guide
The Home, Yard & Garden Pest Guide (C1391) provides is written for homeowners and other residents and provides nonchemical and current chemical recommendations for controlling pests associated with trees, shrubs, turf, flowers, groundcovers, vegetables, fruit, and houses. In addition, you'll find detailed information about integrated pest management, pesticide safety, and pesticide application and calibration techniques. This publication may be purchased at your local University of Illinois Extension Unit office, or by calling 800-345-6087, or by placing an order online (search for "C1391").
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Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook
The Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook (ICLT) is written for professional applicators and provides nonchemical and current chemical recommendations as well as application timing information for all major pests of turf, woody ornamentals and herbaceous ornamentals. This publication may be purchased at your local University of Illinois Extension Unit office, or by calling 800-345-6087, or by placing an order online (search for "ICLT").
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U of IL - Distance Diagnosis through Digital Imaging
A free plant, weed, insect and disease identification service available through your local University of Illinois Extension office. Center Educators or State Specialists review & respond to information and digital images submitted by local Extension office personnel. Some samples may require further examination or culture work (nominal fee involved) at the U of IL Plant Clinic.
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U of IL - Plant Clinic
Services include plant and insect identification, diagnosis of disease, insect, weed and chemical injury (chemical injury on field crops only), nematode assays, and help with nutrient related problems, as well as recommendations involving these diagnoses. Microscopic examinations, laboratory culturing, virus assays, and nematode assays are some of the techniques used in the clinic.
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