The pine moth is a dangerous pest of coniferous plants

The pine moth (Panolis flammea) is a species of butterfly in the moth family (Noctuidae) that inhabits pine forests in Europe. This pest can cause significant loss of coniferous plants, particularly pines, by eating its needles, branches and bark.

In this article we will look at the peculiarities of biology, distribution, symptoms of infestation and methods of pine moth control.

The pine moth is a nocturnal butterfly that is active from late March to late May. The forewings are bright orange-brown, sometimes dark grey, with two large pale spots and thin stripes running along the hind margin. The hind wings are brown or black in colour. The wingspan of the butterfly is 32-40 mm. Butterflies fly out at dusk and are attracted to light.

Females of this butterfly usually lay eggs on pine needles, doing it in the form of a chain of 4-8 pieces, and up to 25 eggs maximum. The fecundity is 300 eggs. These eggs are yellowish or greenish in colour, oval in shape and the surface is fluted. The eggs hatch in 15-20 days.

The caterpillar is greenish-yellow with black and white stripes. It eats mainly pine, but sometimes other species, mainly conifers, and is a dangerous pest of forests. During 30-40 days of development one caterpillar eats from 170 to 200 needles. There are five stages of caterpillar development. At the end of June, having finished feeding, the caterpillars leave the fodder tree, pupate among fallen leaves or in the soil, where they remain until the next spring. The pupa is brown in colour, with two sharp protrusions at the end of the abdomen.

The pine moth is widespread in Europe, Asia, North Africa, where pine trees grow. In Ukraine, it is found throughout the territory where there are pine forests. It harms not only pine, but also linden and fir.

Pine moth
Photo from the site ©Agrarii razom

Symptoms of pine moth damage

 The pine moth can damage pine trees at all stages of development, from seedlings to mature trees. It is quite difficult to notice the first symptoms of the disease on the surface of the tree, but over time it becomes more noticeable. These include:

–  Change in the colour of the needles from green to yellow, brown or red. This indicates a disruption of photosynthesis and interruption of the flow of water, nutrients from the roots to the crown.

– Falling of needles from the tree. The needles can fall off as individual needles or in clusters. Falling needles start from the lower branches and gradually move upwards

–  Appearance of cracks, wounds, resinous discharge on the bark or trunk of the pine tree. This indicates damage to the wood by caterpillars, fungi or beetles. Resin oozes from cracks on the surface of the trunk as a defense reaction of the tree, but this reaction is not always effective. Resinous secretions can be clear, yellow, brown or black. Resin usually leaks from cracks, wounds.

– Bending, twisting or distortion of shoots, branches of pine. This gives reason to talk about the disorder of growth, development of the tree under the influence of caterpillars.

– The appearance of blisters, water blisters or growths on the needles.

It should be noted that effective methods of controlling the harmful activity of the pine moth can be the attraction of insect-eating birds to forests.

Please note! If the number or revival of caterpillars is too intense, the tree is drying out, the needles are falling off, the best solution is to contact the team of specialists of the Green Clinic Ecosystem Phytopathology Centre.

We know how to maintain the health and beauty of pine trees for many years, because our mission is preservation of ecosystems for the sake of successful sustainable development of nature and society.

Please contact us at +380632851405