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Pine Tip Moth

Rhyacionia species (shown: Nantucket pine tip moth, R. frustrana)[3]

Dead brown or reddish shoot tips on young pines are often the work of pine tip moth larvae, which don't kill the tree but can ruin its shape.[1]

Group
Insect
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Tortricidae
US records
21 states
Sources
3 cited
Updated
2026-10-15
Nantucket pine tip moth adult with reddish-brown and silver-gray patterned wings, resting on a white surface
Nantucket pine tip moth adult with reddish-brown and silver-gray patterned wings, resting on a white surface. (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0
On this page
  1. Identification
  2. Where it lives
  3. Biology
  4. Damage and signs
  5. Health risk
  6. Control
  7. More from Utah State University Extension
  8. Related profiles
  9. Common questions
  10. Sources

How to identify it

  • Dead brown or reddish shoots, visible from a distance, are the main symptom; up close you'll see silk and boring frass.[1]
  • Adults are reddish-brown moths with silver-gray markings, about 2/5 inch long.[1]
  • Older larvae are yellow to pale brown with a dark head.[1]

Where it lives

Nantucket pine tip moth and the coastal Monterey pine tip moth attack most pines with two or three needles per bundle; in California they're mainly pests in the south, especially on Monterey pine away from the coast.[1]

US map: public records from 21 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Moths start emerging in January in Southern California and lay eggs singly on new growth tips.[1]

Nantucket pine tip moth has about four generations a year there; overwintering pupae lie in ground litter.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Larvae tunnel in buds, needles and shoot tips, which exude pitch, discolor and die.[1]
  • Damage to the leader can leave trees bushy, crooked or forked, though tip moths don't threaten survival and older pines are less affected.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on pines only; UC IPM mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Prevention

Avoid planting highly susceptible pines if you can't tolerate damage, and water properly so trees tolerate it.[1]

Traps and physical control

Prune off and dispose of infested tips from October through January.[1]

Biological control

The introduced wasp Campoplex frustranae has reduced Nantucket pine tip moth in many places; sprays kill it.[1]

When to call a professional

Insecticide is rarely justified; several effective products are available only to licensed applicators.[1]

More from Utah State University Extension

Minor damage needs no treatment; injury is usually worst in nurseries, and resin, frass and webbing may mark the damaged tips.[2]

Common questions

Why are the tips of my young pine turning brown?
Pine tip moth larvae boring in shoot tips are a common cause; check for silk and frass.[1]
Will tip moths kill my pine?
No, but they can make young trees bushy or forked.[1]

Sources

  1. University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Pine Tip Moths (Pests in Gardens and Landscapes).” ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/pinetipmths.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. Utah State University Extension, “Pine Tip Moths.” extension.usu.edu/planthealth/ipm/ornamental-pest-guide/arthopods/moths/pine-tip-moths.php (accessed 2026-10-15)
  3. iNaturalist, “Rhyacionia frustrana taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/343662 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-15. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.