Common insect pests and diseases of shore poine on the Oregon coast

Shore pine is a subspecies of lodgepole pine that inhabits the coastal strip in Oregon. Insect pests, diseases, and nonbiological (abiotic) factors may have an impact on growth, visual appearance, and productivity of trees. However, shore pine is quite a vigorous tree and tolerates conditions most other trees could not. Perhaps the most commonly observed problems of shore pine are salt damage and shade (lack of full sun), both factors that may be confused with insect or disease damage. Biotic problems such as the pitch masses of the sequoia pitch moth, the roundish swellings (caused by western gall rust), reddish needles and poor needle retention (caused by foliage diseases) and the smaller pitch masses at the base of the tree (caused by red turpentine beetle) are commonly observed but rarely kill the tree. In this publication, we review the general nature of shore pine in Oregon and the common nonbiological, insect pest, and disease problems that impact tree health.