What's eating my pencil pine?

Pencil Pine faces its most serious threat from a cold-tolerant Phytophthora disease recorded on wild populations in Tasmania's Central Plateau. The Pencil Pine Moth (Dirce aesiodora) is an associated endemic insect, and gall midges may deform young shoots. Garden specimens need good drainage above all else.

Progressive crown dieback and root decay; foliage turns brown from the base up; documented killing wild stands at Pine Lake, Tasmania. Ensure excellent free drainage; apply phosphonate preventives; avoid soil movement between sites; do not replant into known infected ground.

Larvae feed on foliage of Athrotaxis; this endemic moth is entirely dependent on the host; light defoliation on individual shoots. Low impact under normal conditions; manually remove caterpillars if infestations concentrate on young garden trees.

Galls and distorted growth on young shoots; cosmetic damage rarely threatening overall health. Prune and dispose of galled shoots; systemic insecticides rarely needed.