As they feed, they deposit waste material, or frass, in their galleries. This red-brown, granular frass is easy to detect by peeling the bark from the terminal. Although chemical controls directed against the adult weevils would prevent further egg laying, there are no sprays for the eggs or larvae. At this point, growers must revert to pruning out damaged terminals, an effective form of mechanical control. We have received a report of discoloration of Colorado spruce foliage in Schuylkill County and observed one tree in Centre County with similar damage.
Damage occurs in spring, just before or at budbreak.
Last year's needles turn reddish-purple and will eventually be cast from the tree. In general, there are no signs of insect, mite or disease associated with this phenomenon. Please contact us if you experience similar symptoms at your locations. During the next week or two, we expect to see crawlers of pine needle scale emerge. Please let us know if you find these tiny red mobile stages at your locations.