This insect is seldom responsible for the death of trees, though seedlings of 2 to 4 feet may be killed if larval feeding extends below the lowest living whorl of the branches.
Economic losses are serious in older trees because the vertical terminal leader is killed.
As a result, tree growth is stunted and deformed, thus lowering the amount and quality of lumber produced. The dead leader may serve as a point of entry for wood-destroying fungi, such as Red Rot, further lowering lumber values. Norway spruce, Scotch pine and jack pine are readily attacked by the weevil. Pitch pine, red pine and red spruce are occasionally attacked, while Douglas fir and blue and white spruce are rarely infested. Douglas fir has suffered damage in a few localized areas of New York State.