Knowledgebase
Pine tree spittlebug infestation #757328
Asked June 20, 2021, 5:36 PM EDT
Gogebic County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
With such a high level infestation, it may be necessary to use insecticides. This is done in late June or early July when most of the spittle masses are empty. The following pesticides are labeled for use on spittlebugs:
Bifenthrin, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, esfenvalerate, lambdacyhalothrin, spirotetramat.
Always follow label directions carefully. To help manage spittlebug going forward, control of sweetfern around the trees is important. This is an alternate host for the Saratoga spittlebug. Information about this plant is here:
https://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=869
For more information on managing this pest, you may want to consider contacting your conservation district forester. In Gogebic county, they can be reached at<personal data hidden>.
I hope this answers your questions. Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth