Crawlers settle on a suitable needle, insert their strawlike mouthparts into the needle, and begin feeding on plant sap. Scales feed and grow for several weeks, then mature into adults in early July. Scales mate and a second generation is produced about mid-July. This generation of scales feeds until mid- to late August, when eggs are laid and females die. Damage High populations of pine needle scale affect the appearance of Christmas trees and can reduce market values.
Heavy infestations can also cause needles to become yellow or die.
Severe and prolonged scale feeding cause entire branches to die and, in extreme cases, causes the death of the entire tree. Control Cultural Scouting and monitoring is critical for management of pine needle scale. Infestations often begin on the lower branches of trees. Turn over shoots to see if scales are present on the undersides of needles. Do not transport infested trees through the field when crawlers are present.