What inchworms are browning my pitch pine?

Possibly eastern pine loopers, which notch and brown the needles.

Eastern Pine Looper: Inchworms That Brown Pitch and Red Pine Needles

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Caterpillars are slender and smooth, mottled brown and gray with stripes, a large spotted head and only two pairs of abdominal legs.^[2]
Adults are mottled brown and gray moths that rest with wings in a broad triangle.^[1][2]

Found in New England and North Carolina; also called the pitch pine looper and yellow-headed looper.^[1][2]

US map: public records from 19 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Pupae overwinter in leaf litter under host trees; moths emerge and lay pale green eggs in May and June.^[1]

Heavier feeding by larger caterpillars may not show until late in the season.^[1]

Young larvae chew notches in needles that then brown; larger ones eat whole needles.^[1][2]
It is rarely abundant, but outbreaks recur about every 10 years on Cape Cod, and heavy defoliation for 2 or 3 years can kill pines.^[1][2]

None to people or pets.^[1][2]

On small specimen trees, one application of a product labeled for caterpillars should eliminate the loopers.^[2]

What inchworms are browning my pitch pine?: Possibly eastern pine loopers, which notch and brown the needles.^[1][2]

UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program (Landscape Insect & Mite Guide), “Lambdina pellucidaria (Pine Looper).” www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/publications-resources/insect-mite-guide/lambdina-pellucidaria (accessed 2026-10-16)
NC State Extension, “Eastern Pine Looper (PDIC Factsheet).” content.ces.ncsu.edu/eastern-pine-looper (accessed 2026-10-16)
iNaturalist, “Lambdina pellucidaria taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/222620 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-16. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.