Pine white butterfly

You will see caterpillars with striped bodies feeding on pine needles creating defoliation on branch terminals. Adult butterflies appear in summer with white and dark wing patterns. Larvae feed openly on foliage in groups. Damage ranges from minor cosmetic impact to severe defoliation on heavily infested trees. Lodgepole and other pine species suffer attack.

Hand-remove larval clusters from small ornamental trees. Prune heavily defoliated branches. Encourage natural enemies including parasitic wasps and predators. Time sprays for early season when larvae are young. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides. Most established pines tolerate defoliation. Maintain tree vigor through proper irrigation and care.