The black overwintering eggs are usually found on the stems, within an inch or two of the bud. Nymphs, destined to become stem mothers for this damaging pest, will feed on the undersides of last year s needles until buds swell. The window of control for this sucking insect is after eggs hatch but before budbreak. If you are planning on harvesting your true firs this year or next, and have had stunting and curling of new growth caused by balsam twig aphid, you should consider chemical control of this pest. This is an excellent time of year to be doing some scouting for insect and disease problems.
Many pests are easier to spot before the new growth starts.
Cultural and mechanical control can also be used to eliminate pests at this time of year. Scotch pines infected with pine-pine gall or harboring initial infestations of striped pine scale can safely be cut out and destroyed now. Rhabdocline needlecast symptoms are very apparent at this time of year. Scouting your Douglas fir fields is easy before new growth starts. Look for red-brown blotches on both sides of the needles.