Egg -The mature egg is pinkish to reddish brown and oval. Nymph -Newly hatched crawlers are reddish brown with black eyespots. Damage -Pine needle scales are most damaging to ornamental pine plantings. Austrian and mugho pines may be so heavily infested that these shrubs become chlorotic and suffer premature needle drop. These eggs hatch in late spring.
Tiny crawlers emerge from under the mother's armor and begin feeding on the needles.
As they mature, the characteristic white, waxy armor is secreted in midsummer. Males emerge and mate with females. Another brood is produced in late July. There are two generations per year. The best time to treat is in May or late July when the crawlers are present.