Caterpillars Killing My Pine Trees

About.com's forestry section provides a list of insects that can be very harmful to trees. The following bugs might be causing problems with your pine trees.

For the complete list and related articles, check About.com

Aphids

Photo: Virginia Tech
Leaf-feeding aphids can over-eat and stunt the growth of pine trees.

Asian Longhorn Beetles

Photo: USFS/FIDL This is an exotic Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). Mean critter.

Balsam Wooly Adelgids

Photo: USFS/FIDL Adelgids are small, soft bodied aphids that feed exclusively on coniferous plants using piercing-sucking mouth parts. Yikes.

Black Turpentine Beetles

Photo: Forestpests.org The black turpentine beetle is found from New Hampshire south to Florida and from West Virginia to east Texas.

Douglas-Fir Bark Beetles

Photo: USDA Forest Service The Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) can cause major damage to trees.

Douglas-Fir Tussock Moths

Photo: USFS/FIDL Severe tussock moth outbreaks have occurred in British Columbia, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico, but the area subject to attack is more extensive.

Eastern Pineshoot Borers

Photo: USFS/FIDL The eastern pineshoot borer Eucosma gloriola, also known as the white pine tip moth, American pine shoot moth, white pine shoot borer, and Tordeuse americaine, kills conifers in the Northeast.

Emerald Ash Borers

Photo: USFS/FIDL This insect kills ash (genus Fraxinus) trees in the Detroit and Windsor areas. Infestations have also been found in lower Michigan, Ohio, northern Indiana, the Chicago area, Maryland, and recently in Pennsylvania.

Fall Webworm

Photo: USFS/FIDL The fall webworm or (Hyphantria cunea ) is known to feed late in the season on nearly 100 different species of trees in North America.

Forest Tent Caterpillars

Photo: USFS/FIDL The forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria) is an insect found throughout United States and Canada where hardwoods grow.