BULLETIN OF THE 
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 larva? 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 stud} 7 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 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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