Which pine species are preferred hosts of Nantucket pine tip moth?

Which pine species are preferred hosts of Nantucket pine tip moth?

• A. Loblolly pine and Shortleaf pine
• B. Longleaf pine
• C. Ponderosa pine
• D. Eastern white pine

Answer: (A)

Nantucket pine tip moth targets the new growth tips of pines, so the species that produce the most tender, accessible shoot tips are the ones the moth prefers. Loblolly pine and shortleaf pine commonly develop long, soft terminal shoots in spring, providing easy sites for eggs and for larvae to bore into and feed. This makes these two species the primary hosts in typical landscapes and forests where the moth is active. Longleaf pine, Eastern white pine, and ponderosa pine either occur less often in the moth’s preferred range or have shoot-tip characteristics and growth timing that are less favorable to the pest, so they are not the main hosts.

Nantucket pine tip moth targets the new growth tips of pines, so the species that produce the most tender, accessible shoot tips are the ones the moth prefers. Loblolly pine and shortleaf pine commonly develop long, soft terminal shoots in spring, providing easy sites for eggs and for larvae to bore into and feed. This makes these two species the primary hosts in typical landscapes and forests where the moth is active.

Longleaf pine, Eastern white pine, and ponderosa pine either occur less often in the moth’s preferred range or have shoot-tip characteristics and growth timing that are less favorable to the pest, so they are not the main hosts.