[IBC] Shoot Tip Moths on Pine

Carol Schroeder

Last year in July I found that the shoot type moth had laid its eggs in
a pine tree and the young were busy devouring the young shoots. I
followed the advice of IBC members and dutifully picked off all I could
find. Nina Shishkoff suggested that I contact my Maryland Cooperative
Extension Agency, which I did last week, to find out when the moths lay
their eggs. This was done to be prepared for this summer's return of the
moths. The agent I spoke to did not have a listing of when the eggs
were laid for the shoot tip moth. I would like to try using a fine
netting this year. (Netting seems to work against the cicadas). Would
white cheese cloth be appropriate? If not, can someone suggest another
netting material? Last summer the damage was done beginning on July
14th and lasted for about four days. Should netting cover the pine for
two weeks or more (?) prior to July 14th?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Carol Schroeder
Maryland, Zone 7

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Nina Shishkoff

This is always my fear when I send people to Cooperative Extension; that when they get there, Extension will say "Beats the heck out of me!".

This is probably the Nantucket pine tip moth, although if it isn't, then the egg-laying information will, of course, be wrong. In New York, there are 2 generations of moths, laying eggs in May and late July. So figure a few weeks earlier for Maryland.

Cheesecloth is too heavy, and too water-absorbant; it might be a bad idea. I buy "bridal" netting at the fabric store. That's what I'm using for the cicadas, and I've always used it for pine tip moths. You'll have to arrange the netting so the tips are
protected- maybe use a few stakes to hold the netting a few inches above the tips. Otherwise the moths are perfectly capable of laying eggs through the netting.

Today's cicada news: they are flapping their feeble wings and flying a few feet. There is an eerie whine in every direction.

---
Nina Shishkoff
ns44@cornell.edu

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Michael Persiano

Carol:

Unfortunately, nontoxic solutions, such as netting and cheese cloth are most likely going to fail at the expense of your tree. Cheese cloth will not allow enough light through to the tree, and once wet it is going to be a problem. Unless you are able to
purchase netting with extremely small openings, the damage is going to be done.

If the infestation is significant, you may incur irreparable damage to the tree. Despite what we would like to think, the use of insectides is sometime a necessity.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
hometown.aol.com/iasnob

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Jim Lewis

> The agent I spoke to did not have a listing of when the eggs
> were laid for the shoot tip moth.

Was it an extension agent or a Master Gardener? We MGs try to
help keep the load off the extension agents, but we don't have
the detailed info that the agents have. I can't believe that if
it was an extension agent he or she didn't have a reference book
(or someone else) to refer to about this.

Try again, and insist on one of the agents.

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

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marty haber

Hi Carol,
I've been using Ivory soap @ one tsp. per gallon of water every 10 days
against candle tip moths. The theory is to smother them as they emerge.
The important thing is to be consistent with the timing since the larvae
mature at different times during the gestation period.
We all miss you at LIBS.
Marty