Pitch in Utah What is making these pitch masses on ? Pitch Moths in Utah The People Want to Blame

Zimmerman Moth: zimmermani Pitch Moths in Utah Known Zimmerman Pine Moth Distribution

Austrian Scotch Pondo

Zimmerman Pine Moth Pitch Moths in Utah Other Pitch Makers:

Pitch Nodule Moths Pinyon Pitch Mass Pinyon Tip Moth Retiniaspp. Dioryctria ponderosae Dioryctria albovittella Pinyon; ponderosa Ponderosa; pinyon; pinus Pinyon Pitch Moths in Utah Bark Beetles

Ips

Dendroctonus Pitch Moths in Utah Bark Beetles

Canopy Exit Galleries Frass fading holes Pitch Moths in Utah Bark Beetles

Disease/Abiotic? Pitch Moths in Utah So…What is it? Pitch Moths in Utah Only 3 Clearwing species attack Pinaceae in NA Pitch Moth Distribution

Pitch Mass Borer Doug-Fir Pitch Moth Sequoia Pitch Moth Pitch Moths in Utah Pitch Mass Borer Synanthedon pini

Hosts: Eastern white pine*; white spruce; jack pine; scotch pine Pitch Moths in Utah Douglas-Fir Pitch Moth Synanthedon novaroensis

Hosts: Lodgepole pine; Douglas-Fir; Picea spp.; Pinus spp. Pitch Moths in Utah Sequoia Pitch Moth Synanthedon sequoiae

Hosts: Pinus spp.; Picea spp.; Douglas-Fir Pitch Moths in Utah Larval and Adult Collections

Taken April 22, 2015 Pitch Moths in Utah Larval Habits

Gallery: vertical and lateral; up to 5” Pitch Moths in Utah Pitch Moths in Utah Identification of Adult Moths Pitch Moths in Utah Identification of Adult Moths Pitch Moths in Utah Identification of Adult Moths

S. novaroensis = S. sequoiae Pitch Moths in Utah Process of Elimination

Sequoia Pitch Moth Doug-Fir Pitch Moth Pitch Mass Borer Likely our moth unless Not morphologically Not morphologically another undescribed species similar similar exists here PCR not a match Distribution eastern Pitch Moths in Utah Sequoia Pitch Moth Life Cycle

Larva: Always Present

Pupae

Egg

Adult Flight

• 1-2 Yr. life cycle • offset, overlapping generations Pitch Moths in Utah Sequoia Pitch Moth Biological Points

• Larvae feed in cambium and sap/heartwood (primarily in spruces) • Young larvae usually in gallery; older in resin mass • Larval feeding produces copious resin • Larval feeding usually aesthetic; serious damage/death may occur • Adult females attracted to freshly pruned/damaged trees • Abandoned galleries are attractive to gravid females • Daytime flyers Pitch Moths in Utah Sequoia Pitch Moth Non-Chemical Control

• Avoid pruning February – September • Avoid any mechanical injury to trees using buffer zones (mowers, weed-whippers, tree staking materials, etc.) • Select more resistant pines (they seem to favor Austrian and scotch pine in UT) • Proper irrigation • Peeling pitch masses with larvae Pitch Moths in Utah Sequoia Pitch Moth Chemical Control

• All fact sheets suggest that there are no recommended insecticides for this . • Systemic neonicitinoids ineffective against clearwings. • Cover sprays ineffective: Carbaryl, Bifenthrin, Permethrin • Does Emamectin Benzoate work? Boxer; TreeAge • John Brown, WA. Study suggests that it does work. Clearwing Moths in Utah There are Others…

Lilac-Ash Borer Peachtree Borer

Sycamore Borer Western Poplar Clearwing Raspberry Crown Borer Common Pests of Schools and Structures in Utah

https://utahpests.usu.edu/schoolIPM/htm/pest-id-guide/ Ryan Davis [email protected] 435-797-2435 utahpests.usu.edu