Penn State Extension
Penn State Extension
Articles Managing Small Woodlots
David R. Jackson, Lynn Kime, Jayson K. Harper, Ph.D., James Finley, Ph.D.
Woodlot owners can improve your woods for the future or cause damage from which it might not recover for generations. More
Guides and Publications Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program
James Finley, Ph.D.
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The Pennsylvania's Forest Stewardship Program is a voluntary program to help forest landowners learn to improve and maintain the ecological health of their land. Private landowners who own between 5 and 1,000 acres of forestland can join the program. More
Articles Spotted Lanternfly on Grapes and Tree Fruit
Julie Urban, Dave Biddinger, Ph.D., Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Biology, management and slowing the spread of the spotted lanternfly on grapes and tree fruit in the Mid-Atlantic Region. More
Articles Zimmerman Pine Moth
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Field identification is usually through the presence of a popcornlike pitch mass on the main trunk. Damage includes reddish, sawdustlike frass at bore holes. More
Articles White Pine Weevils
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
White pine weevil adults have long snouts and elbowed antenna with terminal knobs. Damage includes a typical "shepherd's crook" wilt. More
Articles Vertebrate Pests of Christmas Trees
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Birds tend not to be a big problem associated with Christmas tree production, but damage occasionally occurs to the tops, particularly of taller trees. More
Articles White Pine Blister Rust
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
A small, yellow or red spot appears on the needle at the site of infection and the needle may die as the fungus grows into the bark. Damage shows up as dead or dying branches. More
Articles White Grubs (May, June and Japanese Beetles)
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Larvae of white grubs feed on roots of conifer seedlings and transplants. Damage includes seedling discoloration (reddish brown) in late summer to early fall. More
Articles Swiss Needle Cast
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Symptoms are present on Douglas fir needles within 3 years of infection. The fruiting bodies can be seen with a hand lens. Damage includes dieback of needle tips resembling drought damage. More
Articles Striped Pine Scale
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
The coverings of adult female scales resemble miniature helmets. They are reddish brown and may have cream or white stripes. Damage may show as black sooty mold. More
Articles Spruce Spider Mites
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Spruce spider mites can develop from an egg to an adult in 2–3 weeks under normal conditions. Damage includes small, irregularly shaped yellow spots (“stippling”) on needles. More
Articles Spruce Needle Rust
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Infected trees may appear disfigured and have extensive needle discoloration, reduced growth, and premature needle drop. Damage will show as pale yellow bands that go completely around the needle. More
Articles Rhizosphaera Needle Cast
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Young trees sustain the most severe damage from rhizosphaera needle cast, but trees of any size can be affected. Damage causes discoloration of needles. More
Articles Rhabdocline Needle Cast
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
This infection occurs around bud break, when buds are opening to expose susceptible immature needles. Damage shows up as yellow spots or flecks that enlarge with time. More
Articles Red-Band (Dothistroma) Needle Blight
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Red-band needle blight occurs throughout the growing season during wet periods. Initial symptoms include dark green bands on the needles, quickly replaced with brown or reddish-brown lesions. More
Articles Ploioderma Needle Cast
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Although Ploioderma needle cast occurs in spring, symptoms are not apparent until winter when yellow spots and bands appear, giving the needles a mottled appearance. More
Articles Pine Wilt Disease
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Pinewood nematodes spread from infected to healthy pines in the spring through contaminated pine sawyer beetles. Needles turn yellow then reddish brown. More
Articles Pine Shoot Beetle
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Although they can survive as mature larvae or pupae, pine shoot beetles most often overwinter as adults in the bark or lower stems at the base of trees. Damage includes shoot and branch injury More
Articles Pine Sawflies
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Pine sawfly larvae are caterpillar-like with six or more pairs of prolegs on the abdomen. Larvae use their chewing mouthparts to consume entire needles, which can result in extensive defoliation. More
Articles Pine Root Collar Weevil
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
To locate larvae, remove soil down to the first root flare. Damage includes trees loose in soil, leaning or dying (entire trees may be yellowed). More
Articles Pine Needle Scales
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Pine needle scale is an armored scale that produces a white, oyster-shell-shaped, wax covering. Damage is seen as white flecks on needles or white oyster-shell-shaped scales. More
Articles Pine Bark Adelgid
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Pine bark adelgids overwinter predominately as immature females. By early spring, the mature female begins to produce a coating of woolly wax. Damage includes shoot and branch injury. More
Articles Phytophthora Root Rot
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Trees that do not thrive after planting or quickly develop reddish-brown needles and exhibit dieback should be checked for Phytophthora. More
Articles Pales Weevil
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Pales weevils overwinter as adults in the soil and become active between April and June. Damage includes shoot and branch injury. More
Articles Mechanical Damage to Christmas Trees
Ed Rajotte, Ph.D.
Growing Christmas trees requires the use of many different types of equipment and tools. If not properly used, these may actually damage the trees. More