Christmas tree (Common pests)-Spruce budworm

Choristoneura fumiferana

Pest description and crop damage Green-brown larvae up to 1 inch long feed on foliage and buds of fir, spruce, and Douglas-fir.

Management-chemical control

Apply May-June or when bud flush is at 90 to 95% and new growth is 0.75 to 1 inch. Pay particular attention to areas adjacent to infested forest. Two applications may be necessary.

  • carbaryl (Sevin and others) (Group 1A)
  • Burkholderia spp. (Venerate) - OMRI-listed for organic production.
  • Chromobacterium subtugae (Grandevo)-OMRI-listed for organic production
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL and others) (Group 3)-Restricted use pesticide
  • methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) (Group 18)
  • spinosad (Blackhawk, Conserve, Entrust and others) (Group 5)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic production
  • tebufenozide (Confirm) (Group 18)