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Eastern Shoot For the next VA-2 months, or shrubs growing nearby. Most of is a Problem the larvae make straight tunnels these appear as whitish yellow to We are finding an increase in and move downward. They start and later change to a black, pine shoot borers. This appears to later move upward, packing the unsightly crust like mess. Some of be a major problem where people ff ass tightly on both ends of the these range from 6"- 18" in diame- have planted monocultures of white tunnel. Most feeding activities ter. Is there anything we can do to pine or Scotch pine. This is seen are completed by late-June and get rid of this?

quite often in commercial grounds. girdle the shoot internally at the -MICHIGAN The terminals of turn brown base. Damaged shoots may and bend down like a inverted 'LP. show a typical shepherds crook From your description of the We think it is a problem with east- (inverted 'U'). The larvae make mold like growth on mulch, the ern pine shoot borer. What can be tiny oblong or oval exit holes, problem appears to be caused done for control? drop to the ground and spin by a slime mold. Their sudden -PENNSYLVANIA silken cocoons in the duff. appearance in ornamental beds Within two days they pupate or other areas cause concern to Eastern white pine and and remain dormant until the people. It is not a disease and Scotch pine are favorite trees following spring. This pest has generally is not harmful to for eastern pine shoot borer, one generation per year. nearby plants. It is primarily an gloriola. However, Early detection of infested aesthetic problem. It belongs to other pines, as well as, occa- terminals is helpful for manage- the class Myxomycetes, a group sionally, Douglas fir and other ment, although this can be diffi- between bacteria and fungi. conifers, can also be attacked cult. Look for slightly yellowed They have two developmental by this . shoots with stunted or retarded stages. The first stage is the Adults of this pest, a small needle growth. In some situa- slimy, often colorful, plas- BALAKRISHNA RAO moth (14-16 mm), are rarely tions, wilting of terminals may modial, mobile stage. Under Manager of Research and seen. Their larvae produce char- be evident. Selective pruning of cool, moist condition it grows Technical Development acteristic straight tunnels, with affected terminals will help man- rapidly. for the Davey Tree Co. frass tightly packed at either age this pest. Pruning should be The second stage of their life Kent, Ohio end. Also look for oval or ob- done early in the season to avoid cycle resembles more closely a long exit holes near the tunnel pest population build-up. Apply fungus by producing fruiting base. This area will be discol- pesticide treatments, Orthene or bodies. In this stage they pro- ored and reddish-brown. Talstar, when eggs hatch and lar- duce lots of spores for dispersal. Understanding their biology vae are entering the shoots and The crust-like ugly 'mess' that will help manage them. The in mid-summer when larvae are you have described is their SEND YOUR borer overwinters as pupa in exiting to pupate. B.t. can also fruiting body. When disturbed QUESTIONS TO: duff under the host tree. Adults be used at the time the eggs are these fruiting structures release emerge about this time when hatching. spores which will be dispersed "Ask the Expert" new candles grow (around late- Read and follow label speci- into the air. Landscape Management 7500 Old Oak Blvd. April or early-May in your fications for best results. Generally, there is no need Cleveland, OH 44130 area). Adults lay yellow, flat to manage saprophytic slime eggs, either one at a time or in An Unpleasant Mess mold growth. However, for Please allow two to three groups, for two to four weeks On the mulch bed once in a aesthetic reasons the slime months for an answer to appear in the magazine. on the new twigs or needle while we find some mold-like molds can be removed by rak- sheaths. After 10 to 15 days, growth. Its appearance is ugly and ing, brushing or scooping with the eggs hatch and the larvae resembles like some excre- a shovel and then washing the enter the shoot behind needles, ment or vomit. What is it? What affected area with a jet of boring directly into the pith. causes this? Is it harmful to the tree water. LM