What is happening to my pinion pine? - Ask Extension
Hello! Last spring and summer i noticed brown branches on my pinion pine. A tree service came out, said it was a tick moth, cut off branches and spra...
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What is happening to my pinion pine? #926588
Asked March 23, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
Hello! Last spring and summer i noticed brown branches on my pinion pine. A tree service came out, said it was a tick moth, cut off branches and sprayed it.
In the autumn i noticed that the problem persisted. I took a sample to a tree farm and it was identified as an ips beetle. I was told to spray the tree with Hi Yield indoor/outdoor broad use incecticide, which i did. I noticed it looking worse today and am wondering if it has been misdiagnosed. Would you have a better recommendation for me? Thank you in advance for the reply.
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Tom,
Ips beetle rarely infects pines. I would agree this looks more like pine tip moth. Fortunately, it rarely affects the overall health of the tree.
Here's more information: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/pine-tip-moths/
Depending on when you sprayed it may/may not have been the right time. The larvae will begin to tunnel in the spring (April/May), which is when you'd time spray treatments. Refer to the fact sheet for the chemicals that are effective.
But it's unlikely to kill your tree. You can prune out the dead branches and then boost cultural health. Don't apply too much water, since this is a tree that can tolerate what nature provides.
Ips beetle rarely infects pines. I would agree this looks more like pine tip moth. Fortunately, it rarely affects the overall health of the tree.
Here's more information: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/pine-tip-moths/
Depending on when you sprayed it may/may not have been the right time. The larvae will begin to tunnel in the spring (April/May), which is when you'd time spray treatments. Refer to the fact sheet for the chemicals that are effective.
But it's unlikely to kill your tree. You can prune out the dead branches and then boost cultural health. Don't apply too much water, since this is a tree that can tolerate what nature provides.
Hello Alison!
Thank you very much for getting back with us. Andrew thank you as well for that most welcome assurance that our pinyons are not in any great danger. We ‘ll check out the links you sent and apply the spray at your recommended time.
Sent from my iPhone
Thanks again!
Tom & Fern Konetski
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 24, 2026, at 7:56 AM, Ask Extension wrote:
