Tip Moth Control

Biology and Control of Pine Tip Moth

Don Grosman, Ph.D.

Forest Pest Management Cooperative &Texas Forest Service, Forest Health

Little Rock, AROctober 5, 2011

The larvae feed in the growing tips of young pinesFond of loblolly, shortleaf and Virginia pinesTwo - five generations per year in the South On intensively-managed sites (weed control &

fertilization), damage levels tends to be greater

Once trees reach a height of 15 feet, tip moth problem usually tends to subside.

NANTUCKET PINE TIP MOTH

Left to right: • European pine shoot moth, R. buoliana• Subtropical pine tip moth , R. subtropica• Pitch pine tip moth, R. rigidana• Nantucket pine tip moth, R. frustrana

Four Species of Tip Moths, Rhyacionia spp.

Tip MothLife Stage Monitoring:

“Egg Stage”

First instar larva mine pine needles. After molting, second instar larva migrates to a shoot bud.

Tip MothLife Stage Monitoring:

“Tent Stage”

Note the transparent webbingamong the expanding needlesnear the ends of the shoots (arrows).

Tip Moth Life Stage Monitoring:

“Bored-in-larva Stage”

Note the dead needles and opaque silk and pitch covering of theentrance hole (above),and the larva with abrown head inside theshoot (arrow - right)

Bored-in-larva Stage

Mature larva

Pupa Stage

Pupa

Tip Moth Life Stage Monitoring:“Emerged Stage”

Green arrows point to empty pupal cases indicating that the adults have already emerged from these shoots.

Tip Moth Life Stage Monitoring: “Emerged Stage”

The pen points to the larval gallery inside the shoot which is empty indicating the tip moth has already emerged or has been parasitized.

Tip MothTip MothDamage AssessmentsDamage Assessments

Which shoots? – Green arrows indicate shoots in the top whorl. The shoot in the middle is the terminal. If the tree top is “bushy” without an obvious terminal shoot due to prior tip moth damage, select the center-most shoot as the terminal.

Close-up of a tip moth damaged shoot showing the opaque, white “pitch blister” covering the entrance hole of a tip moth larva which has hollowed out the inside of the shoot (above).

Shoots in the “top whorl” (above hands below) with two lateral shoots damaged by tip moths (green arrows).

Typical tip moth infested shoots - Green arrows indicate three tip moth damaged shoots. Although several tip moths likely attacked the middle shoot, it is still counted as one damaged shoot.

Typical tip moth infested shoots - Terminal and two lateral shoots.

Very heavy tip moth infestation - Multiple attacks on each shoot and down the main stem. Note dead shoots and white pitch blisters covering entrances.

Tip Moth Outbreak in the Western Gulf Region

Extensive tip moth damage to Multiple tip moth attacks on Shoot mortality (12”) on 3 4 year-old loblolly pine in AR. loblolly pine shoot in LA. year-old loblolly pine in TX.

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Loblolly pine in 2nd growing season after planting, deformed as a result of severe and repeatedtip moth infestations.

Impact Sites (105)

Tip moth damage levels in the Western Gulf Region, 2001 - 2010.

Differences in 3rd-year volume index (cm3) of protected and unprotected loblolly pine exposed to different tip moth pressures.

Tip Moth Control

Mean Number of Pine Tip Moth Adults Caught per Trap per Day in the Lufkin, TX, Area (1999 – 2003)

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5 Year MeanGen 1

Gen 5Gen 4Gen 3

Gen 2

Tip Moth Control

Standard Method: Foliar chemical spray applications once per month; potential of 8-9 applications per year.

Many Products Available: At least 18 active ingredients & 53 formulations; Pounce® (permethrin) and Mimic® (tebufenozide) are effective.

Challenge: Fettig et al. 2000 & 2003 presents optimal spray periods for numerous sites in 10 SE and 3 WG states, reducing number of sprays to 3-5 per year. Still not economical for forest plantations.

Tip Moth Control

Optimal Spray Periods for Sites in

MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC and VA

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/rp/rp_srs018.pdf

Optimal Spray Periods for Sites in

TX, LA and AR

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/rp/rp_srs032.pdf

Tip Moth Control

Perhaps systemic insecticides could

provide long-term protection

2002

Evaluated tip moth damage on seedlings treated (root soak) with: emamectin benzoate, fipronil,

imidacloprid and thiamethoxam

Tip Moth Infestation per Generation after Treatment with Different Systemic Chemicals – Plot 1 & 2, 2002 & 2003

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20

40

60

80

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Emamectin benzoate

Fipronil

Imidicloprid

Thiamethoxam

Mimic (Std)

Check

2002 2003

Effect of fipronil in-furrow and plant hole treatments on

tip moth infestation – TR#1, 3 WG sites: 2004 - 2006

*, a or £ = Means are significantly different from check.

PTM™ Spot Gunvia Red River Specialties

Kioritz Soil Injector PTM™ Injection Probevia Aqumix

PTM™ Applicators

Production Discontinued

Machine Planters Fitted with Soil Injection Systems

2008Lane Day System - TX

2011Chris Dowden System - LA

PTM™ (fipronil)

EPA approved Section 3 (Full) registration of PTM™ Insecticide in June 2007 for application during or post-planting of seedlings.

C3M, Helena, ProSource, Red River Specialty and UAP are current distributors.

Red River Specialty is selling PTM™ at $320 per gallon; can purchase in 20 oz ($60) and 2.5 gal containers ($800).

Can only apply 21 oz of product per acre (chemical cost per acre is $52.50).

No restriction on number of seedlings that can be treated. However, the lower the density – the higher the concentration per seedling.

Research Efforts in 2007 - 2010

Evaluate efficacy of PTM™ applied to containerized seedlings.

Evaluate efficacy of PTM™ applied one year after planting at different rates, placement, volume.

Effects of fipronil soil treatment on infestation of containerized and bareroot loblolly pine by

pine tip moth on 2 sites: 2007 - 2010

Effects of fipronil soil treatment on volume (cm3) growth of containerized and bareroot

loblolly pine on 2 sites: 2007 - 2010

ProtectedUnprotected

End of Year 1

End of Year 2Mid-Year 4

Container 3ml Q clone

Bareroot Soil Inj Q cloneBareroot Check Q clone

Container Check Q cloneContainer 15ml Q clone

Conclusions PTM™ placed in plant hole or containers works best and

for the longest duration (3+ years).

PTM™ applied after planting is best placed shallow (4 inches deep) and at higher volumes (30 ml). Still, duration is reduced (< 2 years) compared to plant hole treatments.

Operational treatments have been inconsistent. Work need to improved machine planter system.

Application of PTM into containers in the nursery could reduce application costs.

BASF is now willing to extend PTM™ registration for use on containerized seedlings if EPA concerns are addressed.

EPA Concerns

Leaching of Active Ingredient (AI):Application of PTM into cells early in the growing season and subsequent watering will result in leaching of some (1-3%) AI out of cells – up to 3 lbs

AI / acre.

Worker Exposure:Seedling packers and planters usually hold seedlings at the plug. Workers will be exposed to AI

present on the surface of the plug.

PTM™ for Containerized Seedlings - 2010

PTM (Hi UD) X XPTM (Hi D) X XPTM (Hi D) X XPTM (Med. UD) X XPTM (Med. D) X X PTM (Med. D) X XPTM (Med. D) X XPTM (Low UD) X XPTM (Low D) X XPTM (Low D) X XPTM (Low D) X XCheck (Cont) X Check (BR) X__________________________________________________________________________________

Cont. BarerootPI SI

Weyerhaeuser

Rayonier

ArborGen

Weyerhaeuser

CampbellRayonier

Hancock

Cellfor

USFS / FHP

Plug Injection Trial – Site Distribution - 2011

NCFS

Effects of fipronil plug and soil injection treatment on infestation of containerized and bareroot

loblolly pine by pine tip moth on 10 sites: Gen 1-3, 2011

SilvaShield™ (imidacloprid)

SilvaShield™ Forestry Tablet was registered with EPA in December 2006. It is now registered in all

states, except CA.

Helena, UAP and Red River Specialties are distributors.

Red River Specialty is selling the ball tablet at ~$0.20 a piece ($730 per case of 3600). The label restricts the number of tablets applied per acre to 450. This equates to $91.25 per acre.

Effect of SilvaShield™ tablets and placement on tip moth infestation – 5 sites: 2007 - 2009

Effect of SilvaShield™ tablets and placement on volume growth (cm3) – 4 sites: 2010

Conclusions SilvaShield™ Forestry Tablets can significantly

reduce tip moth damage through the 3rd year after planting.

Tablets placed in plant hole are more effective compared to those placed adjacent to

seedling.

Higher rates most effective for longest duration. Depth of tablet placement had no apparent

affect.

Tablets reduced tip moth damage and improved growth. Weed control and fertilization did not.

Operational tablet treatments have been more effective and consistent compared to PTM™. Work is need to develop applicator system.

PTM™/SilvaShield™ Comparison - 2010

PTM X XPTM X XPTM X XPTM X X X XPTM X X PTM X XPTM X X XPTM X XSilvaShield X XSilvaShield X XSilvaShield X XSilvaShield X X X XSilvaShield X XSilvaShield X X X XSilvaShield X X XCheck

____________________________________________________

Dec.‘09 Sep.’10 Feb.‘11AP PP

Effect of PTM™ and SilvaShield™ and timing on tip moth infestation: 2010

Mean height (cm) of one-year old PTM™- and SilvaSheild™-treated and untreated loblolly pine: 2010.

Tip Moth Hazard Rating Study

Objective: Identify abiotic factors that influence the occurrence and severity of tip moth damage.

Methods:

84 sites with one to two 50 tree plots established between 2001 and 2009.

Site characteristics collected at each site.

Tip moth damage evaluated after each generation for two years.

Hazard Rating Sites (142)

Site Characteristics

Soil texture, drainage and nutrients Depth to horizons, hard-pan and gleying Site index Silvicultural prescription Slope, aspect, position, size Competing vegetation Rainfall Proximity and area of susceptible host type Percent tip moth infestation

Relationship between rainfall and tip moth damage levels in the Western Gulf Region, 2001 - 2010.

Thank you for your attention!

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