Pine tip moth larvae tunnel into immediately after hatching from eggs?

• A. Stem
• B. Needle
• C. Bark
• D. Root

Answer: (B)

Pine tip moth larvae begin feeding where the pine is just developing—the tip of the growing shoot. When the egg hatches, the tiny larva moves into the soft, new growth at the shoot tip and tunnels there, feeding on the needle-formation area. This location gives the larva immediate access to succulent tissue and sets up the characteristic damage to the terminal shoots. Because the first feeding happens in the fresh growth area, tunneling into the needles at the shoot tip best fits their behavior. The other sites—older stem wood, bark, or roots—aren’t the initial targets for these larvae right after hatching.