Most serious on Scotch pine. The larvae of this moth are small and orange in color. They bore into the terminal and lateral shoots of two-needle pines. Injury is most severe on trees less than 6 feet. Nantucket Pine Tip Moths overwinter as pupae in the terminal buds.
Moths emerge in the very early spring.
They produce first generation larvae, which feed and pupate to form moths that produce second generation larvae, which develop to produce moths that produce the third and final generation in Kansas. Where only small plantings are involved, usually around homes, infested tips can be pruned and discarded or destroyed. Insecticidal spray treatments may also be considered by homeowners. General calendar dates for applying chemical control measures have been listed as periods between late April to early May, late June to early July and late July to early August for generations one, two and three, respectively. Insecticide application should be timed to coincide with the appearance of young larvae.