Pine Shoot Beetle

(Click on an image below to see the captioned full-size version)
Figure 1		Figure 2		Figure 3		Figure 4		Figure 5		Figure 6

Scientific Name: Tomicus piniperda
Common Name: Pine Shoot Beetle, Common Pine Shoot Beetle

Known Hosts:
Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) is the preferred host but pine shoot beetle will attack other Pinus spp. including red pine (Pinus resinosa), Jack pine (Pinus banksiana), Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), and Austrian pine (Pinus nigra). When the population levels are high, adults may breed in logs of fir (Abies spp.), spruce em>Picea spp.), and larch (Larix spp.).

Key ID Features (Adults, Larvae, Eggs):
	Adult beetles are brown to shiny black (turns darker as it matures) about ¼ inch (3-5mm) in length and cylindrical shape. (Figure 1) Adults emerge from overwintering under the bark when temperatures reach 54F in March or April at which point they search for suitable brood sites
	Mated females tunnel between the inner bark and cambium creating galleries 4-10 inches (10-25cm) long for their eggs. Females lay eggs in niches on both sides of the egg gallery.
	Larvae hatch in late April to June and feed in galleries 1.5-3.5 inches (4-9cm) long radiating away from the egg laying gallery. (Figure 2) Larvae are legless, up to 5mm in length, and have a white body with a brown head.
	Mature larvae pupate and emerge as adults between July and October.
	New adults will feed on the youngest shoots (new or 1 year old shoots) to reach maturation. Adults enter the shoot 6 inches (15cm) or less from the shoot tip and then bore for 1-4 inches (2.5–10cm) inside the shoot towards the tip. Each adult will feed on between 1 and 6 shoots. This is the most destructive stage of the life cycle and stunts the growth of the trees. (Figure 3)

Description of damage:
	Damaged shoots flag (droop), turn yellow, and eventually turn brown & fall off the tree (Figure 4 and 5)
	Damaged shoots will have a round entrance hole (2-3 mm in diameter) surrounded by pitch (Figure 6)

Fact sheets and references:
USDA, APHIS Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey: Information on Pine Shoot Beetle surveys, links to the latest news and regulations about this insect
http://www.ceris.purdue.edu/napis/pests/psb/

Pine Shoot Beetle: USDA, APHIS Pest Detection and Management Program: Up-to-date maps of regulated areas and other information on the beetle
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/psb/

Tomicus piniperda Common Pine Shoot Beetle: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/tompin/tech/tompine.shtml

USDA Forest Service Pest Alert: New Introduction- Common Pine Shoot Beetle http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/shootbeetle/shootbeetle.htm

Canadian Forest Service Exotic Forest Pest Advisory- The Pine Shoot Beetle
Detailed publication on how to recognize the pine shoot beetle and the damage it causes
http://ceris.purdue.edu/napis/pests/psb/pacanad1.html

USDA APHIS Pine Shoot Beetle Factsheet
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_phpsb.html

Pine Shoot Beetle Compliance Management Program: Michigan Department of Agriculture
http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1568_2390_5974-11726--,00.html

last reviewed February 15, 2008