BULLETIN OF THE 



UMPiTffilOFIMlHl 



No. 170 



Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology, L. O. Howard, Chief, 

 February 9, 1915. 



THE EUROPEAN PINE-SHOOT MOTH; A SERIOUS 

 MENACE TO PINE TIMBER IN AMERICA. 



By August Busck, 

 Entomological Assistant, Forest Insect Investigations. 



INTRODUCTION. 



One of the most injurious insects to pine forests in Europe is a 

 small orange-red moth, the larva of which eats out the new buds 

 and kills or deforms the young twigs of pine trees, so as seriously 

 and permanently to lower their timber value. This European pine- 

 shoot moth, which is known under the scientific name Evetria buoliana 

 Schiffermiller, has within very recent years been accidently intro- 

 duced into America on imported European pine seedlings and has 

 unfortunately become established in several widely separated locali- 

 ties in the eastern and middle western States. 



Early last summer (1914), a correspondent of the Bureau of 

 Entomology complained of a serious insect injury to European pines 

 under his surveillance on Long Island, and sent examples of the 

 injury and of the larvae causing it ; the latter could not be identified 

 as those of any of our known American pine pests, and the writer 

 was therefore authorized to visit the affected localities in order to 

 ascertain the extent of the injury and to obtain sufficient live ma- 

 terial for study and rearing. From this material a large number of 

 moths emerged during the latter part of June and these were at once 

 recognized as the famous European pine-shoot moth. 



Subsequent surveys, undertaken by the bureau through Mr. Carl 

 Heinrich and the writer, established 1 the fact that the species has been 

 repeatedly introduced on European nursery stock, and that it has be- 

 come established in nurseries and parks in several localities scattered 

 over nine States. 



In view of the experience with other introduced European insects, 

 and considering the very serious financial loss caused abroad annually 

 by this insect, its introduction into this country gives just cause for 

 alarm, because incalculable injury may result to the vast American 

 forest interests if this insect is permitted to become generally estab- 

 lished on our native pines. 



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