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Common Pitch Moths of Pine in British Columbia

By R. W. Duncan

Introduction

Pitch formations and associated damage caused by the sequoia pitch moth or the northern pitch twig moth are frequently encountered on lodgepole pine and other pine species in British Columbia forests.

The sequoia pitch moth, Synanthedon sequoiae (Hy. Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), may attack any suitable host trees over 2 m in height. The damage caused by this insect is easily located by the large pitch masses found on the main stem and branches. In most situations, this insect causes little permanent damage, but occasionally serious damage to young trees results if the trees are sufficiently weakened at the point of attack to cause later breakage.

The northern pitch twig moth, Petrova albicapitana (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is primarily a pest of pine saplings 0.3 to 3.0 m in height. The visible evidence of this moth consists of pitch nodules on terminal shoots formed by first-year larvae or larger pitch masses, located in branch crotches, produced by second-year larvae. Feeding damage by this insect can kill terminal shoots or produce weakened and crooked trunks.

For more information, see the Common Pitch Moths of Pine Forest Pest Leaflet in the Canadian Forest Service bookstore.