The Effect of Needle Structure upon the Susceptibility of Hosts to the Pine Needle Miner (Exoteleia pinifoliella (Chamb.)) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract

The pine needle miner (Exoteleia pinifoliella (Chamb.)) is one of at least seven pine needle miners occurring in North America. A native to the East, it is widely distributed from Southern Ontario (6) through the Atlantic States to Georgia (1).The insect is a persistent and annoying pest that infests forest trees of all ages from nursery transplant beds to mature stands. The moths oviposit year after year on the same trees causing localized infestations; one part of a stand may be heavily populated, while an adjacent area may remain untouched for years.