Which side of the pine trunk does the resin come from? Treatment of diseases of coniferous trees

What from spruce. Those who have chosen a beam with a profile are hesitant because of the large pine knots that are noticeable in the interior. Therefore, they look towards a white, homogeneous spruce with small knots. Pine is more variegated. Due to the increased resin content in the tree.

Pine tree resin, if it begins to melt down when the solid wood dries, will continue to come out in places through capillaries and resin pockets for another couple of years. The more beautiful boron pine, grown in favorable conditions, which for some reason is praised by most OCB manufacturers, is impregnated with resin no more than spruce. In fact, longevity should be associated with pitch pine grown in unfavorable conditions, which has an amber (red) core from the resin. To protect against external factors, such a tree is richly impregnated with resin while standing. But not everyone will like it in appearance (OTSB in the photo). The resin will begin to come out abundantly when cutting wood (cuts for casing), in cuts under a frame partition.

The difference between the beautiful hog pine and the pitch pine is that the latter has the resin mostly concentrated in the core. The outer part (sapwood) of coniferous construction species is already strong. It is clearly visible from old abandoned wooden houses that it is the core that is destroyed first. The resin core significantly increases the service life of a wooden structure. If the resin does not melt out forcibly. For this reason, profiled timber dried in a chamber is inferior in durability to that of natural moisture. We must understand After manufacturing, the timber remains with a continuous, weaker core part of the tree trunk, sapwood is practically absent.

With a more gentle, time-extended atmospheric drying (called natural), you will more often see resin on the surface of upland pine. It is mainly concentrated in the outer sapwood part of the log (this is shown in the upper left photo). With modern protective compounds, resin is not really needed for the outer layers of solid wood. In addition, it comes out abundantly in the sun, often through an expensive finishing coating and stinks of turpentine in the bathhouse. Pine knots also ooze. Resin takes a long time to turn white (glaze) and crumble on its own. Acetone diluted with water in proportions of 1/4 will speed up the removal process.

Resin is a substance that is released when tree cover is damaged. At first it looks like a thick viscous mass of amber-honey color, but when exposed to air it soon hardens and becomes a resin. Most often, this ability is observed in coniferous trees.

What is resin? coniferous trees? To put it correctly, coniferous trees emit resin, not resin. Resin is resin dissolved in essential oils (scientifically called balm). Contrary to the popular belief that “pine resin smells,” we note that it is not the resins themselves that smell (they have no smell at all), but rather the essential oils. On air most of essential oils evaporate, but about 6% remains, which explains not only the pleasant smell, but also the not entirely solid consistency (resins, as is known, are amorphous solids).

Coniferous resin: composition

Coniferous resin plays extremely important role in the life of trees: it flows onto the surface of a wound or crack, preventing the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the wood. Thus, the resin protects its “mistress” from those who want to use the nutrient medium of pine or spruce. Coniferous tree resin has antiseptic and bactericidal properties. Roughly speaking, live bait is a band-aid that the tree puts on itself.

C is a mixture of resin acids, fatty acids and their esters, alcohols, sterols, resenes and waxes. Resins are insoluble in water, but dissolve without problems in chloroform, alcohol and other organic solvents.

Resin is formed in the sapwood, that is, the outer layers of the tree. The predominant part of the resins is released into the resin passages. These are narrow channels filled with resin. They are located in the wood structure both horizontally and vertically, forming a single resin-bearing system. The length of the resin ducts can range from 10 to 80 cm.

It is worth mentioning that coniferous trees are so far an insurmountable “enemy” of manufacturers of wooden products - tools, etc. Coniferous wood is in considerable demand because it is relatively inexpensive, elastic, durable and has a beautiful structure. But, at the same time, due to the presence of resin in wood, tools quickly wear out, making wood processing and the formation of decorative and protective layers more difficult.

Resin from coniferous trees is dealt with by: But the resin remains inside the wood, and under certain circumstances it can come to the surface. Therefore, we are now actively studying the possibility of isolating the resin inside the substrate using varnishes, sealers, and insulating primers. The solution to the problem is still very far away, but that’s another story.

Speaking about the composition of the resin of coniferous trees, one cannot fail to mention amber. Coniferous resins, oxidized by atmospheric oxygen, become extremely resistant to exposure external environment. Thanks to this, they were able to lie in the ground for millions of years, turning into amazingly beautiful amber.

Conifer resin: extraction

Among coniferous trees, the most popular resin, oleoresin, resin, resin and. On an industrial scale, pine resin predominates, of course. Using her example, we will look at the extraction of resin from coniferous trees, but there are no fundamental differences between the extraction of different conifers.

Pine resin will differ in quality depending on where it grows: on moist, shaded soils, and even in cold winter, the resin extracted is bitter and dark. And, conversely, in dry, sunny places after a moderate winter, pine produces very good resin.

As it says folk wisdom– you cannot wound a tree to get resin. You can only take what the tree itself gives. At the same time, the resin of coniferous trees is popularly called tree blood. Perhaps for one person's needs it is enough to go into the forest and pick up a handful of pine resin. But you can’t build an industry on this, so forestry enterprises use tapping to extract pine resin.

Pine tapping is cuts on a tree trunk that look like grooves. Thanks to their placement at an angle, the resin that the wounded pine begins to release flows into prudently placed containers. The first time, pine resin is released in small quantities, and the wound quickly heals. After 10 days, the grooves are cleared, and the pine resin begins to be released more intensely. In this rather gentle way, it is possible to extract about 0.5 kilograms of pine resin per season. This tree remains quite healthy if you milk it little by little and give it a break.

But there are also more severe methods, which are called “to death.” This method is used when there are 4-5 years left before cutting down trees. It is characterized by more intense, high cuts on all sides of the trunk. At the same time, it is possible to extract up to 300 kg of pine resin per year from a hectare of forest (several kilograms from one tree). For other popular species of coniferous trees, the yield of resin is somewhat lower: spruce resin - up to 0.5 kg, larch resin - up to 0.4 kg, cedar resin - up to 0.8 kg.

Coniferous resin can be extracted not only from living trees, but also from stumps. To do this, the stumps are crushed, and resin is extracted from the wood by distillation or extraction.

Coniferous tree resin: application

Industrial application of coniferous resins

Let's start with the industrial use of oleoresin. Since the resin of coniferous trees consists of 35% of the light fraction - essential oils (turpentine), and 65% of the heavy fraction - pine resin (rosin), a way is needed to separate the resin into fractions. This method consists of steam distilling the purified resin.

The resulting turpentine is often used in medicine, as a solvent for varnishes and paints, and in the chemical industry; Rosin is used in the production of artificial leather, plastic, rubber, soldering and tinning, soap, linoleum, mastics and many other useful things.

Pine resin itself is widely used for tarring wood, as a softener for rubber mixtures, and for the production of pitch, pitch, and resin oils.

Medical uses of pine resins

The miraculous properties of coniferous tree resins have been known since ancient times. Despite the fact that tree resin is similar in composition and exhibits strong healing, analgesic, and antiseptic properties, there is, of course, a difference between different representatives of conifers.

- Cedar resin Excellent for treating diseases associated with cerebral circulatory disorders. These are injuries, atherosclerosis, hypoxia, senile dementia, speech and memory disorders, etc. Also, cedar resin will help normalize cardiac activity. It is also valuable because with radiation therapy it can make the tumor more susceptible.

- Larch resin– an excellent remedy against helminths, including tapeworms and roundworms, for amebiasis and giardiasis, and is often used to treat lice and scabies;

- Fir resin– a universal substitute for antibiotics. Kills infections of the mucous membranes of the mouth and genitals, stomach, intestines, esophagus, is able to cleanse the skin of boils and carbuncles, and has antitumor properties;

- Spruce resin is an excellent immunostimulant and antioxidant. Spruce resin will help with bruises, burns, trophic ulcers, and even stomach ulcers, tuberculosis and bronchitis.

As you can see, tree resin is an extremely useful and affordable thing. Anyone can go into the forest, “gather” resins from coniferous trees, and then clean them. To do this, the dirty resin is wrapped in gauze and thrown into boiling water. The resin will come to the surface of the water and you just need to scoop it up with a spoon or pour it into a container with cold water to harden. Then the resin is rolled into balls or “sausages” and used for any purpose - fortunately, it can be stored for a very long time.
Tatyana Kuzmenko, member of the editorial board, correspondent of the online publication "AtmWood. Wood-Industrial Bulletin"

In folk songs, fairy tales and epics, everything beautiful and wonderful is called red. Popular poetic expressions are widely known: red maiden, red spring, red sun. He earned this epithet among the people and coniferous forest, beautiful and green at any time of the year. Coniferous trees are especially beautiful in the dead of winter, when a blizzard hangs fancy snow garlands on their green branches. Only larch does not participate in this winter festival of beauty, the only one among coniferous trees that sheds its summer green attire for the winter. But in all other respects it is no different from its coniferous counterparts.

There are much more coniferous forests in our country than deciduous ones. Forming both pure and mixed forests, they make up three quarters of all forest areas.

The wood of coniferous trees, as well as their appearance, differs sharply from deciduous trees, primarily due to the characteristic texture with clearly defined annual layers. Most coniferous trees have a turpentine-smelling wood due to the presence of resin. Widespread coniferous wood, which has high technical properties, has always had predominant importance in the national economy, especially in construction and wooden architecture.

Although all coniferous trees share their inherent common properties, each of them at the same time has its own unique characteristics, which must be taken into account by woodworkers.

Pine

A tall, powerful tree with red copper bark can be found in almost all latitudes of our country. Of the twelve species of pine trees growing in our country, the most common is Scots pine. Sandy and marshy soil, hot and cold climate The pine tree accepts it with a complacency rare for other trees. But she only loves light and does not tolerate darkening. In the thicket, where the trees grow densely, their crowns stretch upward towards the sun, trying to expose every twig to its rays. And behind the crowns, trunks stretch upward, round and straight, like turned columns. Thickets of centuries-old pines form forests, called ship forests, because once in the old days the trunks of mighty pines were used for masts and other parts of wooden ships.

Pines that grow in a large forest clearing or open field look completely different. There is plenty of light here, and there is no need at all to stretch the crown as high as possible, but you can freely spread the branches in all directions. Their trunks become stocky and small branches twist intricately, forming a spreading and picturesque crown. But the most bizarre forms are taken by the branches of pine, which grew in the Jurassic, sublime and open place, accessible to all winds. Under such a pine tree you can collect a wealth of material for forest sculpture.

The soil in which pine trees grow also affects the appearance of the trees. Geologists have noticed that the shapes of the crown and branches of pine trees in places where peat bogs occur have their own characteristic features. This gave them the idea to begin the search for new deposits of large peat bogs by studying the branches and crowns of pine trees.

Pine has a whorled arrangement of branches. Usually four or five branches fan out in all directions, located at the same level around the trunk. Floor after floor, the whorls rise to the very top. Every year a new whorl forms at the top of the pine tree. By the whorls, you can approximately determine the age of the pine: how many whorls mean how old the pine is. But age can be determined in this way only in young pine trees. In old pines, the whorls from below die off and become overgrown, leaving no traces on the trunk.

Whorls

The whorled arrangement of the branches of the pine tree inspired the peasants to cut out many items needed in peasant life. For example, whorls are the ancestor of modern mixers.

We present information from the field of botany, as we consider it necessary in this book to create a holistic “image” of a tree.

In peasant huts even now, somewhere near a Russian stove, you can see a stick polished with calluses with flyers at one end. This is a pine whorl, an indispensable kitchen tool if you need to beat butter, quickly crush boiled potatoes in a cast iron pot, or knead dough in a kneading pan.

Magical powers were also attributed to an ordinary pine branch. From one New Year's holiday to another, the Western Slavs kept a pine branch in the hut, which, according to their ideas, was supposed to protect the house from the machinations of evil forces, protect the peace and well-being of the inhabitants of the hut. By the time of the New Year, the old withered branch was replaced with a fresh one. Superstitious beliefs associated with a pine branch have long been forgotten. But even now in a modern person’s home you can find a pine branch standing in a crystal or ceramic vase, but as an interior decoration.

Breaking the rules of botany, the pine tree is called a Christmas tree once a year. In the southern regions of our country, where spruce does not grow, instead New Year they dress and honor the pine tree. But, unlike the Christmas tree, pine is decorated not only for the New Year. In some regions of Russia, there was a custom to decorate a small pine tree before the wedding at a bachelorette party, when the bride’s friends sang ritual songs. They placed a loaf of bread in the middle of the table, stuck a young pine tree into it and, like a bride, decorated it with colored ribbons and wildflowers. In wedding songs the bride was compared to a young pine tree:

Sosenushka, sosenushka, young,

Why aren’t you green, little pine tree?

Young, young, young,

Why are you, young lady, not cheerful?

In dry sunny days, already in April, you can hear in the pine the forest is easy, a subtle clicking sound. You raise your head and immediately notice a lot of gray fluttering dots against the light background of the sky. These are flying, spinning in the air, winged pine seeds. In the wind and sun, the cones have dried out and are now opening, releasing the ripened seeds from winter captivity. Squirrels, woodpeckers and crossbills are big hunters of pine seeds.

Pine seeds, pine resin, cones

People harvest pine seeds in the winter, from December to April, before the cones have time to open. Then they are dried in special dryers and the seeds are extracted from them. But empty cones are not wasted either. Pine cones are the best fuel for the famous Russian samovars; they burn well and hold heat for a long time. Lovers of crafts made from natural materials use cones to make various funny figures. Once in a warm and dry room, the cones brought from the forest will inevitably open after some time. To keep some of the cones unopened, they are dipped in liquid wood glue.

Pine resin, which forms on the butt part of the trunk, is also used for crafts. In the lower part of the trunk, the pine bark is thick and riddled with deep cracks. On top it is dark brown with a bluish-lilac bloom, and on the cut it is brown, with light layers. Pine bark is very light, dense and cuts well. It is known that Novgorodians made floats for nets from 33 ena in ancient times. Even now, if a fisherman does not have a factory float at hand, he sometimes cuts it out of a piece of pine bark.

Pine feeds!

There used to be a saying: “The pine tree feeds, the linden tree puts on shoes.” The fact that linden makes shoes is understandable, because in former times peasants wove shoes from bast bast. But how the pine tree feeds is not so easy to guess... And only from history can one learn that in the years of famine, peasants removed the thin bark from the pine trees and scraped off the inner shell, called pulp. The pulp was dried, crushed and mixed with flour.

Pine is one of those rare trees, which go into business entirely, without leaving a trace from roots to top. Needles, branches, cones, resin and roots - all this, as well as stem wood, are valuable raw materials for various industries. Pine needles contain many useful substances, which is why they have long been used in folk medicine for the preparation of medicinal tinctures and decoctions. At modern industrial enterprises, essential oils are extracted from pine needles, used in perfumery and medicine, and pine-vitamin flour is produced, which is used to feed animals.

From thin and long, rope-like roots, village craftsmen wove various vessels called rootlets. Before weaving, the roots were washed, cleared of bark and split in two. The extraordinary flexibility of the roots gave

the ability to weave dishes of very complex shapes, with a texture reminiscent of fabric. The craftsmen wove the roots so tightly that peasants stored salt, sand and starch in wicker dishes.

Resinous pine roots were used as fuel in primitive peasant lamps. They burned longer than a birch torch and gave more light, illuminating even the far corners of the hut. And when hunting with a spear in the old days, only pine roots were burned in a lamp mounted on the bow of the shuttle - they burned without a crack, which means they did not scare away the fish.

Resin and amber

Damaged pine releases resin, which protects plants from penetration of harmful organisms into the wood fibers. That is why this resin is called resin, because it heals and embalms tree wounds. And apparently, having noticed this property of the resin, gardeners began to heal the wounds of fruit trees with it, making a plaster from it with the addition of wood (olive) oil and wax. By the way, the balm with which the ancient Egyptians soaked mummies that have survived to this day and survived for thousands of years also includes pine resin.

Loggers and hunters have long noticed the ability of oleoresin to heal wounds. If there is no first aid kit at hand, then instead of a bandage or plaster, they applied clean resin to the wound. By the way, the patch we buy at the pharmacy also contains pine resin. They also put resin on sore teeth to soothe 34 toothache. And the inhabitants of the Caucasus even prepared a special medicinal chewing gum from pine resin. In the old days, oleoresin diluted with alcohol was used as a rub for aches and pains. Until now, turpentine obtained from resin is used as a rubbing agent. The smoke of burning resin has disinfectant properties. In some regions, in winter, peasants smoked their huts with smoke from burning resin to purify the air and remove bad odors.

And who doesn’t know the wonderful mineral amber. Amber is also pine resin, but it has lain in the ground for millions of years. In some pieces of amber there are insects that once took a rash step, sitting on the resin flowing from a pine tree. And now scientists have the opportunity to study insects that lived on earth millions of years ago. Amber has a rich range of colors - from golden yellow and red to blue-green and almost black. Not only jewelry is made from amber: rings, brooches, necklaces, bracelets, but also decorative sculpture and mosaic panels. The highest achievement of the art of amber processing was the famous amber room in Tsarskoye Selo near Leningrad, in which everything, from a small item to the walls, was made of carved amber.

Resin is a valuable raw material for the chemical industry. How is resin prepared? In forests specially designated for this purpose, the oleoresin harvesters, the lifters, make two rows of inclined cuts, called subcuts. The resin gradually flows into the receiver - a small vessel fixed at the bottom. If the fresh cuts are renewed from time to time, the resin will flow all summer. Over the summer, up to two kilograms of resin are obtained from one tree.

At rosin-turpentine enterprises, the resin is cleared of debris and distilled with steam. When cooled, the volatile part of the resin forms turpentine, and the golden, brittle mass remaining after distillation forms rosin. Rosin is used to make paper, make soap and prepare varnish and paint. It is necessary in shipbuilding, the leather and rubber industries, as well as for the production of sealing wax and linoleum. A violin, cello and other bowed instruments would not be able to play without rosin.

Turpentine

Other component turpentine is used as a solvent for paints and varnishes, rubber and various resins. Synthetic camphor is produced from it. In textile production, chintz fabrics are etched with turpentine before drawings are applied to them, and paints are diluted.

Pine wood is of great value. Moderately strong, light and soft, drying wood has always found the widest application.

Pine wood

Pine is a soundwood species. The heartwood of a freshly felled tree is slightly pinkish, but as the wood dries it darkens and gradually acquires a brownish-red hue. The core of the branches is red-brown. The sapwood of the pine is wide, with a yellowish or light pink tint. The medullary rays are difficult to distinguish in an end section even through a magnifying glass. But they are clearly visible in the form of golden shiny spots on the radial chip. Pine splits well not only in the radial, but also in the tangential direction. The ability of pine to split well is used in the manufacture of shingles, planks and cooper's staves. By splitting pine blanks along the grain, folk craftsmen created amazingly beautiful chipped toys. Thin strips of wood chips were also used to weave baskets and boxes. The core rays visible on the surface of the wood gave the products a unique shimmering shine.

Pine, like most conifers, has clearly visible annual layers. Each layer consists of two parts. The light and wide part is formed in spring and early summer, and the narrow and darker part is formed in late summer and autumn. The early and late parts of the annual layer differ not only in color. The early part is looser and softer, while the later part is denser, harder and resinous. Taking these properties into account, craftsmen have found ways to enhance the decorative properties of pine and other coniferous wood. By lightly burning the surface of the wood with a soldering or gas torch, a negative texture pattern is obtained due to the fact that the loose early layers, being burned faster, become darker than the later ones. After longer firing and subsequent processing with metal brushes, the surface of the wood acquires a relief texture.

On a well-polished end of a pine tree, especially in the dark late part of the growth ring, through a magnifying glass it is easy to see resin ducts in the form of light spots. On longitudinal sections they form dark lines. The later part of the annual layer contains more resin than the early part. Many properties of wood depend on the width of the annual layers. Wide-grain wood is soft, light and light, while narrow-grain wood is dense, hard, dark and heavy. Craftsmen call wide-grained wood myandovaya, and fine-grained wood - ore wood, for its red-brown color. Ore wood with moderate resin content is of the greatest value.

In the southern regions of Russia, depending on the degree of resin, two varieties of pine were distinguished - resin and dried chips, or dutitsa. A heavily resinous pine tree was called a resin, and a dry chip was one that contained a minimal amount of resin. The forest raftsmen knew well that dry wood chips can be rafted, but tar cannot be rafted - if not immediately, then somewhere along the way it will sink. The tar is heavy and water does not hold it, but it is strong and durable: a sunken tree can lie at the bottom of the river for decades. That's why such resinous pine was used where it was supposed to withstand dampness: for buildings in swampy places, piers and piers, bridges, parts of wooden ships. The carpenters tried to place three or four tar crowns in the log house first, because they are closest to damp earth. Perhaps that is why the lower crowns of the buildings of ancient Novgorod were preserved, having lain for centuries in damp soil.

IN carpentry highly resinous pine was rarely used. It is poorly painted and etched. If you plan or saw, you will suffer, the resin sticks to the metal. It is dangerous to place varnished and painted products made from such pine anywhere near a stove or in the sun. Under the influence of heat, the resin in the resin bags melts, and the varnish coating warps and peels off. But if you still have to use resinous pine in carpentry, then before finishing it must be deresined with special compounds. Where there are no increased requirements for the strength of the product, dry wood chips were used. It accepts mordant and paint well, and is easy to cut and plane.

In the forest, pine reaches technical maturity at 80-100 years. At this age it is cut down for needs National economy. In ship groves, trees are up to 40 m high and about half a meter in diameter. A debarked cylindrical tree trunk is the simplest and only structural element in peasant buildings. But Russian carpenters learned to knit logs so cleverly without a single nail that they sometimes cut down not only huts and outbuildings, but also giant buildings of complex shape. In 1669, near Moscow, in the village of Kolomenskoye, a royal palace was cut down from selected pine logs, representing a complex architectural complex. Logs for construction were harvested in winter, when trees contain a minimum amount of moisture, which means they crack less. The palace has not survived to this day, but one can judge this grandiose structure from drawings and memories of eyewitnesses. The wooden palace had 270 large rooms and three thousand windows. The palace amazed not only with its grandiose size, but also with the fabulous splendor of its wooden buildings. No wonder his contemporaries called him the “eighth wonder” - after the seven famous wonders of the world.

They do not lose their attractiveness and decorative value throughout the year, and, as a rule, live longer than many deciduous species. They are an excellent material for creating compositions thanks to various forms crown and color of needles. The most widely used coniferous shrubs in professional and amateur landscaping are junipers, yew, and thuja; from wood - pine, larch, spruce. Therefore, information about their main diseases seems relevant. The issue of treating conifers is especially acute in the spring, when it is necessary to deal with burning, winter drying and infectious diseases on plants weakened after winter.

First of all it should be mentioned non-communicable diseases, caused by the negative impact of unfavorable conditions on the growth and development of coniferous plants environment. Although conifers are demanding of increased soil and air humidity, excess moisture associated with natural waterlogging, rising groundwater levels, spring floods and heavy autumn precipitation leads to yellowing and necrotization of needles. The same symptoms very often appear due to a lack of moisture in the soil and low air humidity.

Thuja, spruce, and yew trees are very sensitive to drying out roots, so immediately after planting, it is recommended to mulch their trunk circles with peat and grass cut from lawns, if possible, maintain mulching throughout the entire period of their growth, and water regularly. The most drought-resistant trees are pines, thujas and junipers. In the first year after planting, it is advisable to spray young plants with water in the evening and shade them during the hot period. The overwhelming majority of conifers are shade-tolerant; when grown in open sunny places, they may lag in growth, their needles may turn yellow and even die. On the other hand, many of them do not tolerate strong shading, especially light-loving pine and larch trees. To protect against sunburn bark, it can be whitened with lime or a special whitewash in early spring or late autumn.

The condition and appearance of plants largely depend on the supply of nutrients and the balance of their ratios. A lack of iron in the soil leads to yellowing and even whitening of needles on individual shoots; with a lack of phosphorus, young needles acquire a red-violet hue; With nitrogen deficiency, plants grow noticeably worse and become chlorotic. The best growth and development of plants occurs on drained and well-cultivated soils provided with nutrients. Slightly acidic or neutral soil is preferred. It is recommended to fertilize with special fertilizers intended for coniferous plants. In summer cottages, conifers may suffer from frequent visits from dogs and cats, which cause an excessive concentration of salts in the soil. In such cases, shoots with red needles appear on thuja and juniper, which subsequently dry out.

Low temperatures in winter and spring frosts cause the crown and roots to freeze, while the needles become dry, acquire a reddish color, die, and the bark cracks. The most winter-hardy are spruce, pines, firs, thujas, and junipers. The branches of coniferous plants can break off due to frost and snowflakes in winter.

Many coniferous species are sensitive to air pollution from harmful industrial and automobile gaseous impurities. This is manifested, first of all, by yellowing, starting from the ends of the needles and their falling off (death).

Conifers are rarely severely affected infectious diseases, although in some cases they can suffer greatly from them. Young plants are generally less resistant to a complex of non-infectious and infectious diseases; with age, their resistance increases.

Types of soil-dwelling fungi of the genera Pytium(pythium) And Rhizoctonia(rhizoctonia) lead roots of seedlings to rot and die, often cause significant losses of young plants in schools and containers.

The causative agents of tracheomycosis wilt are most often anamorphic fungi Fusarium oxysporum, which are classified as soil pathogens. The affected roots turn brown, the mycelium penetrates the vascular system and fills it with its biomass, which causes the access of nutrients to cease, and the affected plants, starting from the upper shoots, wither. The needles turn yellow, red and fall off, and the plants themselves gradually dry out. Seedlings and young plants are most affected. The infection persists in plants, plant debris and spreads through contaminated planting material or contaminated soil. The development of the disease is promoted by: stagnation of water in low areas, lack of sunlight.

As a protective measure, it is necessary to use healthy planting material. Promptly remove all dried plants with roots, as well as affected plant debris. IN for preventive purposes carry out short-term soaking of young plants with an open root system in a solution of one of the preparations: Baktofit, Vitaros, Maxim. At the first symptoms, the soil is spilled with a solution of one of the biological products: Fitosporin-M, Alirin-B, Gamair. For prevention purposes, the soil is spilled with Fundazol.

Gray mold (rot) affects the above-ground parts of young plants, especially in unventilated areas with very dense plantings and insufficient lighting. Affected shoots become gray-brown, as if covered with a layer of dust.

In addition to these diseases, which are widespread on deciduous trees, there are diseases characteristic only of conifers. First of all, they include Schutte, the causative agents of which are some species of ascomycete fungi.

Common Schutte pine

Real Schutte Lophodermium seditiosum- one of the main reasons for premature needle drop in pine trees. Young plants are mainly affected, incl. in the open ground of nurseries, and weakened trees, which can lead to their death due to severe falling of needles. During the spring and early summer the needles turn brown and fall off. In autumn, small yellowish dots are noticeable on the needles, gradually growing and turning brown; later, dotted black fruiting bodies - apothecia - are formed on the dead, crumbling needles, which preserve the fungus.

Common Schutte pine, which has similar symptoms and development cycle causes Lophodermium pinastri. In the fall or more often in the spring of next year, the needles turn yellow or become reddish-brown and die. Then the fruiting bodies of the fungus form on it in the form of small black streaks or dots, turning black and enlarging by autumn. Thin dark transverse lines appear on the needles. Moderately contributes to the dispersion of spores and infection of needles warm weather, drizzling rain and dew. Weakened plants in nurseries and crops up to 3 years of age and self-seeded pine are more often affected and killed.

Caused by a fungus Phlacidium infestans, which mainly affects pine species. It is especially harmful in snowy areas, where it sometimes completely destroys the regeneration of Scots pine.

It develops under snow cover and develops relatively quickly even at temperatures around 0 degrees. The mycelium grows from needle to needle and often further to neighboring plants. After the snow melts, dead needles and often shoots turn brown and die. Diseased plants are covered with grayish mycelium films that quickly disappear. During the summer, the needles die off and become reddish-red, later light gray. It crumbles, but almost never falls off. In lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta) dead needles are more reddish than those of Scots pine. By autumn, apothecia become visible, like small dark dots scattered across the needles. Ascospores from them are spread by air currents to living pine needles just before they are usually covered with snow. The development of the fungus is favored by drizzling rains, falling and melting snow in the fall, mild, snowy winters, and a long spring.

Brown shutte, or brown snow mold of conifers affects pines, fir, spruce, cedars, junipers, caused by a fungus Nerpotrichia nigra. It is found more often in nurseries, young trees, self-sowing and young teenager. This disease appears in early spring after the snow melts, and the primary infection of needles with sacspores occurs in the fall. The disease develops under snow at temperatures not lower than 0.5°C. The lesion is discovered after the snow melts: a black-gray cobwebby coating of mycelium is noticeable on the brown dead needles, and then the pinpoint fruiting bodies of the causative fungus. The needles do not fall off for a long time, thin branches die off. The development of the disease is facilitated by high humidity, the presence of depressions in crop areas, and dense plants.

Signs of defeat juniper schutte(the causative agent is a fungus Lophodermium juniperinum)appear at the beginning of summer on last year’s needles, which acquire a dirty yellow or brown color and do not fall off for a long time. From the end of summer, round black fruiting bodies up to 1.5 mm in size are noticeable on the surface of the needles, in which marsupial sporulation of the fungus persists in winter. The disease develops intensively on weakened plants, in humid conditions, and can lead to plant death.

Protective measures against Schutte include the selection of planting material that is resistant in origin, giving plants as much resistance as possible, timely thinning, and the use of fungicidal sprays. Shaded plants are most susceptible to the disease. The harmfulness of the shutte increases with high snow cover and prolonged melting. In forests and parks, instead of natural regeneration, planting of plants of the required origin is recommended. Planted plants are more evenly distributed over the area, making it difficult for mycelium to infect one plant from another, in addition, they quickly reach a height above the critical level. In areas where schutte damages Scots pine, you can use lodgepole pine or Norway spruce, which is rarely affected. Only healthy planting material should be used. It is recommended to remove fallen diseased needles and trim dried branches in a timely manner.

Fungicidal treatments are necessarily used in nurseries. Spraying with copper and sulfur-containing preparations (for example, Bordeaux mixture, Abiga-Peak or HOM, lime-sulfur decoction) in early spring and autumn effectively reduces the development of diseases. When the disease manifests itself to a severe degree in summer time spraying is repeated.

Of particular importance for conifers are rust diseases, caused by fungi of the Basidiomycota department, class Uredinomycetes, infecting needles and bark of shoots, virtually all of their pathogens are different hosts, and pass from conifers to other plants, causing their damage. Here is a description of some of them.

Rust of cones, spruce spinner. On the inside of the scales of spruce, which is an intermediate host of the rust fungus Puccinia strumareolatum, round dusty dark brown aeciopustules appear. The cones are wide open and hang for several years. The seeds are not germinating. Sometimes the shoots become bent; the disease in this form is called spruce spinner. The main host is bird cherry, on the leaves of which small round light purple uredinio-, then black, telopustules appear.

Causes rust fungus Melampsora pinitorqua. The aetial stage develops on the pine tree, as a result of which its shoots bend in an S-shape and the tip of the shoot dies. Aspen is the main host. In summer, small yellow urediniopustules form on the underside of the leaves, spores from which cause massive infection of the leaves. Then, by autumn, black telopustules form, in the form of which the fungus overwinters on plant debris.

Rust of pine needles cause several species of the genus Coleosporium. Affects mainly two-void species of the genus Pinus, is found throughout their habitats, mainly in nurseries and young stands. The aeciostage of the fungus develops on pine needles in spring. Yellow bubble-shaped aeciopustules are located in disorder on both sides of the needles; uredo- and teliospores are formed on coltsfoot, ragwort, sow thistle, bellflower and other herbaceous plants. When the disease spreads strongly, the needles turn yellow and fall off prematurely, and the plants lose their decorative properties.

Various host mushroom Cronarium ribicola causes pine spinner(five-needle pines) , or columnar rust of currants. First, the needles become infected, and gradually the fungus spreads into the bark and wood of the branches and trunks. In the affected areas, there is a release of resin and aeciopustules protrude from the ruptures in the cortex in the form of yellow-orange bubbles. Under the influence of the mycelium, a thickening is formed, which over time turns into open wounds, the overlying part of the shoot dries out or becomes bent. The intermediate host is currants; gooseberries can rarely be affected; numerous pustules in the form of small columns, orange, then brown, form on the underside of their leaves.

Mushrooms of the genus Gymnosporangium (G. comfusum, G. juniperinu, G. sabinae), pathogens juniper rust affects cotoneaster, hawthorn, apple, pear, and quince, which are intermediate hosts. In the spring, the disease develops on their foliage, causing the formation of yellowish growths (pustules) on the underside of the leaves, and round orange spots with black dots are noticeable on the top (aecial stage). From the end of summer, the disease passes to the main host plant - juniper (teliostage). In autumn and early spring, yellow-orange gelatinous masses of sporulation of the causative fungus appear on its needles and branches. Fusiform thickenings appear on the affected parts of the branches, and individual skeletal branches begin to die. Swellings and swellings form on the trunks, most often the root collar, on which the bark dries out and shallow wounds open. Over time, the affected branches dry out, the needles turn brown and fall off. The infection persists in the affected juniper bark. The disease is chronic, practically incurable.

Rust of birch, larch - Melampsoridium betulinum. Small yellow pustules and yellowing appear on the underside of birch and alder leaves in spring, and shoot growth decreases. Larch, which is the main host, has needles that turn yellow in summer.

As protective measures against rust diseases It is possible to recommend spatial isolation from affected plants that have a common pathogen. So, you should not grow poplar and aspen next to pines; five-coniferous pines should be isolated from black currant plantings. Cutting out affected shoots and increasing resistance through the use of microfertilizers and immunostimulants will reduce the harmfulness of rusts.

Pathogens drying of juniper branches there may be several mushrooms: Cytospora pini, Diplodia juniperi, Hendersonia notha, Phoma juniperi, Phomopsis juniperovora, Rhabdospora sabinae. Drying of the bark and the formation of numerous fruiting bodies of brown and black color are observed. The needles turn yellow and fall off, the branches of the bushes dry out. The infection persists in the bark of affected branches and unharvested plant debris. The spread is facilitated by dense plantings and the use of infected planting material.

Thuja can also often appear drying out of shoots and branches, caused more often by the same fungal pathogens. A typical manifestation is yellowing and falling of leaves from the ends of the shoot, browning of young growth of branches; In humid conditions, sporulation of fungi is noticeable on the affected parts.

The causative agent is a fungus Pestalotiopsis funerea causes necrotic disease of the branch bark and browning of the needles. On the affected tissues, olive-black sporulation of the fungus forms in the form of separate pads. If branches dry out severely, hot weather The pads dry out and take on the appearance of scabs. When there is an abundance of moisture, grayish-black mycelium develops on the affected needles and stem bark. Affected branches and needles turn yellow and dry out. The infection persists in the affected plant debris and in the bark of drying branches.

Sometimes it appears on juniper plants biatorella cancer. Its causative agent is a fungus Biatorella difformis, is the conidial stage of the marsupial fungus Biatoridina pinastri. With mechanical damage to branches, over time, pathogenic microorganisms begin to develop in the bark and wood, causing bark necrosis. The fungus spreads in the bark tissues, the bark turns brown, dries out, and cracks. The wood gradually dies and longitudinal ulcers form. Over time, rounded fruiting bodies form. Damage and death of the bark leads to the needles turning yellow and drying out. The infection persists in the bark of the affected branches.

Pathogen nectria canker of juniper is a marsupial mushroom Nectria cucurbitula, with conidial stage Zythia cucurbitula. Numerous brick-red sporulation pads up to 2 mm in diameter form on the surface of the affected bark; over time, they darken and dry out. The development of the fungus causes the death of the bark and phloem of individual branches. The needles turn yellow and fall off, the affected branches and entire bushes dry out. The infection persists in the bark of the affected branches and plant debris. The spread of infection is facilitated by dense plantings and the use of contaminated planting material.

IN last years on many crops, incl. conifers, fungi of the genus have become more active Alternaria. Pathogen Juniper Alternaria is a mushroom Alternaria tenuis. On the needles affected by it, which become brown, and on the branches a velvety black coating appears. The disease manifests itself when plantings are dense on the branches of the lower tier. The infection persists in the affected needles and bark of branches and in plant debris.

To combat drying out and Alternaria, you can use preventative spraying of plants in spring and autumn with Bordeaux mixture, Abiga-Peak, and copper oxychloride. If necessary, in the summer, spraying is repeated every 2 weeks. The use of healthy planting material, timely pruning of affected branches, disinfection of individual wounds and all cuts with a solution of copper sulfate and coating with oil paint on natural drying oil significantly reduces the prevalence of diseases.

Larch cancer causes marsupial fungus Lachnellulawillkommii. Its mycelium spreads in the bark and wood of larch branches during its spring and autumn growth dormancy. The following summer, new bark and wood grows around the wound. As preventive protective measures, it is recommended to plant resistant species of larches, grow them in favorable conditions, do not thicken them, and avoid frost damage.

Some types of fungi can settle on the stems of conifers tinder fungi, forming rather large fruiting bodies, annual and perennial, on the bark, causing cracking of the bark, as well as rot of the roots and wood. For example, pine wood affected by root sponge is first purple, then white spots appear on it, which turn into voids. The wood becomes cellular and sieve-like.

Rot of thuja trunks is often caused by tinder fungi: pine sponge Porodaedale pini, causing variegated red trunk rot and the Schweinitz tinder fungus - Phaeolus schweinitzii, which is the causative agent of brown central fissured root rot. In both cases, fruiting bodies of the fungus form on the rotted wood. In the first case, they are perennial, woody, the upper part is dark brown, up to 17 cm in diameter; in the second mushroom, the fruiting bodies are annual in the form of flat caps, often on stalks, located in groups. Affected plants gradually die, and unharvested dried plants and their parts are a source of infection.

It is necessary to promptly cut out diseased, damaged, dried branches, and cut off the fruiting bodies of tinder fungi. Wound damage is cleaned and treated with putty or drying oil-based paint. Use healthy planting material. You can carry out preventive spraying of plants in spring and autumn with Bordeaux mixture or its substitutes. Be sure to remove stumps.

Very popular on garden plots Various types of pine trees are used. These beautiful evergreens have a healing aroma and are pleasing to the eye. all year round. But despite the external power and grandeur, many different types of pests develop on pine trees: insects that feed on pine needles, as well as the most dangerous ones, which feed mainly on shoots, trunks and roots. Trees growing near the pine forest where they live are at particular risk. a large number of pests that can easily move to your pine trees.
Of the insects that feed on needles, it is necessary to pay attention to sucking pests. They are small, often invisible, but their development significantly weakens the tree, making it easy prey for bark beetles.
Large insects feeding openly on needles are easy to detect. For example, a beautiful caterpillar - the pine hawk moth. These insects are usually observed in small numbers, so they can be easily collected by hand, especially if the pine trees are small.
IN Lately Sawflies greatly harm mountain pine, settling on them more readily than on Scots pine. From the beginning of May, carefully examine pine needles for sawfly nests. If detected in a timely manner, they can be removed manually or treated with Decis, Karate, and Bliskavka.
The greatest danger is posed by insects that can easily cause plants to die - these are root pests, primarily May beetles. Khrushchev is especially dangerous for young pines, so when planting, carefully scan the ground for the presence of larvae. If their quantity is more than 3 pcs. per 1 sq. m, planting should be stopped or a global treatment of the soil should be carried out with preparations to destroy beetles.
More than once I had to observe the withered trunks of Crimean pines after the development of six-toothed bark beetles in them, which are present in pine forests and settle on diseased or dead trees. The risk group also includes recently transplanted young trees, which during this period are physiologically weakened, which attracts bark beetles. When settling on pine trees, bark beetles make tunnels and ring the tree, as a result, the trunk receives less nutrients and the plant dies. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically inspect newly planted pines for bark beetle colonies, especially in the spring. Signs of the introduction of bark beetles are holes and drill flour on the trunk. It is good to carry out preventive treatment of pine trees at the end of March - April with preparations based on bifenthrin.
Remember that with timely detection of pests and proper implementation of protective measures, you will preserve the health of your pine trees for many years.
Insects damaging needles
Pine silkworm (Dendrolimus pini)
A dangerous pest of Scots pine, it can develop on Crimean and mountain pine. Butterflies with a wingspan in females from 5 to 9 cm, in males - 4-7 cm. The general color of the wings is the color of pine bark, very variable - sometimes more gray, sometimes more red. Butterfly years are from the end of June to July. Females lay about 200 round, rather large eggs in heaps on pine branches, on pine needles and bark. The caterpillars emerge after 15-20 days, usually in early August. Caterpillars are hairy, gray or dirty reddish, the color of pine bark, adults - up to 9 cm in length; feed until the onset of frost, then go to the litter for the winter. In early spring, the caterpillars rise into the crown and begin intensive feeding, sometimes completely eating the needles from the tree. One caterpillar can eat up to 700-800 needles during the development period. In June-July they complete development and pupate in loose cocoons attached to the branches.
Control measures: treatment in the fall or spring with Decis, Karate, Aktara, Enzhio, etc.

Red pine sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer)
It especially harms Scots, Crimean and mountain pine by eating their needles. Damaged trees weaken, lose their decorative properties, reduce growth, die down and are colonized by bark beetles. The female is red, 7-8 mm long, yellowish wings. The male is black, 6-7 mm in length. The sawfly larva is a false caterpillar, greenish-gray, with a narrow, lighter stripe along the back and a black head. The hatching of larvae occurs simultaneously with the flowering of Scots pine. The larvae live in groups (nests) of 20-30 individuals or more, feeding on needles from previous years. Pseudo-caterpillars of the first and second instars eat only the soft tissues of the needles and do not touch the vascular-fibrous bundles. As a result, the needles curl and dry out, forming brown spots that are clearly visible against the background of the green crown of the pine tree. It is worth paying attention to the appearance of branches with dry, twisted needles in order to destroy the pest in time. When older larvae feed, only “stumps” remain from the needles. In June, the larvae cocoon in the litter under trees. In August-September, adults emerge and lay eggs in annual needles.
Control measures: Pyrethroid drugs - Decis, Karate, Bliskavka, etc., as well as viral drugs, have a good effect on the pest. If the pines are small, the larvae can be collected by hand and destroyed.

Common pine sawfly (Diprion pini)
A dangerous pest of pine trees, the reproduction of which affects not only last year’s needles, but also the current year’s needles, which significantly affects the viability of the trees. It eats the needles of pine trees, especially common, mountain, and Crimean ones. Adult female of variable color, 7.5-10.5 mm long. The male is black, with yellow legs, 5.5-8 mm long. Two generations develop per year. The first generation's years begin at the end of April. The summer generation occurs in midsummer. The female lays about 100-150 eggs in the needles. In the spring, females lay eggs only in old needles, in the summer - in the needles of the current and previous years. The larvae of the first three instars gnaw the needles, leaving the central part untouched, causing them to dry out and curl. Adult larvae eat the needles completely. The larvae pupate in a barrel-shaped cocoon, which are located on the branches in the spring generation, and in the litter in the autumn generation.
Control measures: treatment of larvae with Decis, Karate, Aktara, etc. On small trees, the pest can be collected by hand.
Red-headed or social sawfly weaver(Acantholyda erythrocephala)
It develops primarily on Scots pine, but is also noted on Weymouth pine. Adult insects have a blue body with a metallic sheen. The length of the female is 12-14 mm, the head is red. Male – 10-12 mm, black head. The adult years begin in the last ten days of April and last until June. Eggs are laid in rows on last year's needles. The larvae live in large web-like nests that contain excrement and remains of pine needles. The larvae of the last instars live individually. At the end of June, the larvae descend into the litter and pupate in cocoons.
Control measures:
Pine hawkmoth (Hyloicus pinastri)
Damages the needles of Scots and Crimean pines. The butterfly is large, gray, with narrow, long wings 6.5-8 cm in span. Flies in May-June. The female lays up to 200 eggs singly on needles. The caterpillars appear at the end of June – July, develop for about 1 month, and feed on pine needles. An adult caterpillar is 6.5-8 cm long. The body color is variable, mostly green, with a black-brown horn at the rear end of the body. Caterpillars pupate on the forest floor. The pupae overwinter. It does not produce outbreaks of mass reproduction, but sometimes it significantly damages pine needles.
Control measures: The caterpillars can be collected by hand or the pine trees can be treated with insecticides.
Pine armyworm (Panolis flammea)
Damages the needles of Scots pine and can feed on the needles of other types of pine trees. The butterflies are reddish or greenish-brown, matching the color of pine buds that have begun to grow. The wingspan is 2.5-3.5 cm. The caterpillar is green, with five white stripes and a lateral orange stripe above the legs. The butterfly flight begins at the end of March - April, in colder years it can last until the end of May. They fly at dusk. Females lay 2-10 eggs on the underside of pine needles, sometimes more. After about 14 days, caterpillars emerge from the eggs and eat the tops of the budding young needles, which is very dangerous for the viability of the pines. Older caterpillars eat the entire needles. After 4-5 weeks of feeding, usually at the end of June, the caterpillars descend to the soil and pupate on the forest floor.
Control measures: treatment with Decis, Karate, Aktara, Enzhio.
Pine moth (Bupalus piniaris)
Damages the needles of Scots, mountain, and Crimean pine. The butterfly has a wingspan of 30-40 mm. The male's wings are dark brown and his antennae are feathery. The female has reddish-brown fore and hind wings, and thread-like antennae. Butterflies usually fly at the end of June. Females lay eggs in rows on the underside of old pine needles (from 4 to 7 pieces in one row). After about 14 days, caterpillars emerge from the eggs. The adult caterpillar is grayish-green, with five longitudinal white stripes, up to 30 mm long. They begin to eat needles from the top and from the outside of the crown. The needles are eaten completely, leaving only the middle rib. Resin appears on the needles, the needles turn yellow and fall off. Caterpillars complete development in late summer or early autumn. Pupation usually takes place in October in the litter or soil.
Control measures: treatment with Decis, Karate, Aktara, Enzhio.
Sucking pests
Pine bark bug(Aradus cinnamomeus)
Severely harms pine trees by sucking out their tissue, which leads to weakening of the trees. An adult female is 4.5-5 mm long, the body is flat, rusty-brown in color, the color of pine bark. Females of two forms are observed: long-winged and short-winged. The length of the male is 3.5-4 mm. The larva resembles an adult insect, but is smaller in size and has shorter antennae. Bedbugs have a specific odor of pear essence. Fourth instar larvae and adults overwinter in the litter around the trunk or in bark cracks in the lower part of the trunk. In early spring, bugs climb up the trunk and begin to feed and reproduce. During this period, you can apply glue rings or tape to the trunks, this will help to detect and destroy them. A sign of the colonization of pine trees by the subbark bug is the appearance of yellowish and then brown spots on the trunks. Subsequently, the bark cracks and resin deposits form on it. The color of the needles also changes, they become dull and pale, the May growth falls off, and the shoots shorten.
Control measures: treatment of trunks and near-trunk part of the litter is effective in autumn or early spring, systemic drugs Enzhio, Confidor, Mospilan, etc.

Brown pine aphid (Cinara pinea)
They feed on plant sap. In the spring they settle in dense, large colonies mainly on young shoots and needles of the current year, and in the summer they move to thicker branches, where they can reproduce in large numbers. The body of aphids is thick, dark or brownish with a shine. Winged individuals are as common as wingless ones. In autumn, females crawl onto annual shoots, where they lay large, dark, fertilized eggs in rows. The development of the foundresses from eggs occurs in late April - early May, always accompanied by Lasius niger ants.
Control measures:

Pine fusiform scale (Anamaspis lowi)
Peculiar insects are often found on almost all pine trees grown in Ukraine. Larvae and females feed on needles. At the site of sucking, the needles turn yellow and die, which can cause them to fall and significantly weaken the trees. The body of females is covered with a shield; they lead a sedentary lifestyle, only sucking juices and laying eggs. The female's scutellum is elongated, white, widening towards the end. The size of a female with clutch is about 2 mm. Females and larvae overwinter. Overwintered scale insects feed and lay eggs from spring to autumn. The larvae of the new generation appear in May, they are mobile and are called wanderers. Having emerged from the eggs, they actively disperse throughout the plants.
Control measures: treatment with Calypso, Confidor Maxi, Mospilan, etc.

Pine hermes (Pineus pini)
Damages Scots pine, Weymouth, and cedar. Hermes are peculiar aphids that develop only on coniferous plants and suck their juices. On the needles of infested pine trees, you can find small reddish-brown aphids covered with white, waxy, curled hairs. The development cycle of Hermes is complex. It produces 3-4 asexual generations per year. The larvae overwinter and in the spring they turn into oviparous founders. From the eggs laid by the founders, virgin larvae emerge, which, having reached maturity, lay unfertilized eggs, giving rise to a new partogenetic generation. Sometimes winged dispersers appear and form colonies on other trees. If there are spruce trees nearby, development may occur on another host, where the larvae develop in galls.
Control measures: treatment with Calypso, Confidor Maxi, Mospilan, etc.

Red pine gall midge (Thecodiplosis brachyntera)
The adult gall midge is a small two-winged insect, up to 2.5-3 mm, Brown. The female with a long ovipositor lays up to 100-120 eggs, one at a time or 2-3 eggs at a time. at the base of young needles. The larva is at first colorless, later (in September) it is brightly colored orange-yellow-red. The development of larvae leads to the fusion of a pair of needles at the base. The site of development of the larva expands and swells, forming a gall 2-3 mm in size. Damaged needles are always noticeably shorter. In autumn, the larvae's feeding ends, and they go to winter under the scales of the shoot. The larvae pupate in the spring in a small whitish-gray cocoon 2-3 mm long. The age of adult gall midges is in May.
Control measures: treatment of needles with Enzhio, Aktara, Mospilan, Calypso.

Insects damaging needles, shoots, roots
Gray pine weevil (Brachyderes incanus)
Beetle 7-11 mm long. The beetles overwinter under bark, moss and in the soil. In the spring they begin to feed, gnawing the needles and bark of young shoots, attacking mainly young, 8-15 year old pines. In May they begin to lay eggs in the soil. The larvae feed on the roots of pine trees, gnawing the bark of thin and thick roots, severely damaging them, which is especially dangerous for young trees, as it can cause their death. The larvae pupate in late summer, and soon the beetles emerge to the surface.

Spot tar(Pissodes notatus)
It is especially harmful in pure pine plantings or pine trees growing in areas located in or near pine forests. Beetle 5-7 mm long. The summer of beetles is in May-June. With additional feeding, beetles damage the needles, bark of shoots and branches, gnawing out areas in it that are often covered in resin. Females lay several eggs in a pre-prepared area gnawed into the bark. The larvae are legless, sickle-shaped. Each larva gnaws its own individual passage. The larvae and their passages are located in the lower part of the trunks and root collar, on the root paws of young pine trees 3-20 years old. The beetles usually overwinter on the forest floor and under the bark of old stumps, and begin breeding in the spring. The generation is annual. The beetles undergo additional feeding.
Control measures: treatment of infected trees with drugs Caesar, Talstar and others based on bifenthrin.

Large pine weevil(Hylobius abietis)
A dangerous pest of Scots pine, Weymouth, can damage spruce, larches and firs. Beetle 10-13 mm long. Adult beetles usually fly from May to June and then lay eggs - in cracks in the bark, under root nodes or at the ends of chopped roots. After 2-3 weeks, larvae appear, burrow into the ground and develop under the bark of the root part of the stumps. The larva is whitish, legless, slightly C-shaped. The body length of the last instar larvae is 12-23 mm. The pupal stage lasts 2-3 weeks. The greatest harm is caused by adult beetles, which gnaw the bark and bast of young trees and can completely ring them, leading to death.
Control measures: treatment with Aktara, Enzhio, Mospilan, Calypso.

Shooters are butterflies from the family of leafrollers (Tortricidae), whose caterpillars damage buds and young shoots of various types of pine trees. As a result of feeding on the contents of the buds and tissues of growing shoots, curvature of the trunks and multi-vertexing occur. This leads to loss of decorative properties and a decrease in the industrial value of wood. Trees between 3 and 15 years old are usually damaged.
The most common: wintering shootweed (Rhyacionia buoliana),summer(Rhyacionia duplana), tar shooter(Retinia resinella), bud shoot (Blastesthia turionana). These types are distinguished by the nature of the damage.
Overwintering shootweed (Rhyacionia buoliana)
It prefers to grow on Scots pine; Crimean, Weymouth and other types of pines are more resistant to the pest. The butterfly has a wingspan of 18-24 mm. The forewings are orange, with several transverse silver stripes. Summer begins in the second half of June and lasts about a month. Females lay eggs on the buds of the apical shoot. In August, the caterpillar bites into a kidney, where it overwinters. On damaged buds, a characteristic cobweb is visible that covers the caterpillars. The adult caterpillar is dirty-waxy in color, no more than 21 mm long. Since spring, the caterpillar continues to damage the bud and the lower part of the growing shoot. This is when it does the most damage. Pupation occurs in June in a damaged shoot, which later dries out and bends downwards. Pupation usually begins in late May - early June. After 15-20 days the butterflies fly out.
Summer shoot (Rhyacionia duplana)
The butterfly has a wingspan of 13-20 mm. The forewings are dark gray at the base to rusty with a golden tint at the top. Butterfly years are in April-May. Females usually lay eggs on last year's shoots of the upper whorl near the buds. The caterpillars begin to emerge from the eggs in mid-May, bite into the May shoot with green needles and feed in it, moving from the bottom up. Damaged shoots become bent and dry out. The caterpillar is light orange or yellow-pink, 9.5-13 mm long. Pupation occurs on the root collar of pine trees. Most often, the tops of the shoot are damaged and then its base.
Pogovyun renal (Blastesthia (Rhyacionia) turionana)
Damages shoots of Scots pine. The butterfly has a wingspan of 16-20 mm. The forewings are brownish-gray, with numerous transverse streaks of light gray. Butterflies fly in May - early June, laying eggs on buds, shoots and needles. The caterpillars hatch from the first half of June to July, burrow into the bud and feed on its contents. Over the course of the summer, one caterpillar can damage several buds. The caterpillars overwinter in the buds, continue feeding in the spring, and pupate inside the damaged bud in May. The caterpillar is light brown, with a black head, 13-17 mm long.

Resin shooter (Retinia resinella)
The butterfly has a wingspan of 17-23 mm. The forewings are black-brown, with numerous transverse silver-gray streaks and small spots. The hind wings are brown, darker at the edges. Butterfly years are in May-June. Eggs are laid at the base of the whorl. The caterpillar bites into the shoot, from where the resin protrudes, forming a false gall - a resin deposit. The caterpillar overwinters twice and pupates in a scum in the third year, in the spring. Usually, after the end of development, the damaged tissues heal, so it does not cause significant harm. Sometimes the entire circumference of the trunk may be damaged, resulting in the top dying off, which causes a change in the shape of the crown.
Control measures: If infestation is low, it is possible to manually collect and destroy the damage along with caterpillars and pupae of pests. For wintering and summer shoots, this should be done no later than mid-June. For chemical control, use insecticides Aktara, Mospilan, Confidor, Calypso; it is advisable to use them at the beginning of caterpillar hatching.

Stem pests
Big (Tomicus piniperda) And small(Tomicus minor) pine beetles
They damage the bast of sick and weakened pines. Intensive colonization of weakened trees by pine beetles can lead to their death. With additional feeding, the beetles cut off the apical shoots of pine trees, which also weakens the plants. Both species are widespread, with the greater pine beetle found more often in wetter areas of the forest. The beetles are brown, difficult to distinguish by appearance, the size of the large pine beetle is 3.5-5.2 mm, the size of the small pine beetle is 3.4-4.5 mm. The beetle flight occurs very early, immediately after the snow melts. The beetles gnaw holes mainly in the lower bark of young pine trees and lay eggs. The larvae are white, small, make tunnels in the phloem; if the density of larvae is high, they can ring pines, as a result of which they die.
Control and prevention measures: treatment of transplanted trees, especially those planted near large pine tracts, with drugs Caesar, Talstar, Balazo and others based on bifenthrin. Carry out prevention in March - early April, carefully monitor the appearance of the first signs of pest infestation (holes in the trunk, drill flour).
Blue pine borer (Phaenops cyanea)
Inoculates pine trees weakened by transplantation. The beetle is 8-12 mm long, dark blue with a metallic tint. Summers in June-July. Females lay eggs one at a time in cracks in the bark, mainly in the middle part of the trunk. The larva is yellow-white, legless, 23-25 ​​mm long, flattened body. The larvae gnaw long winding passages under the bark filled with drilling flour. The larvae overwinter, finish feeding in the spring, and pupate in May.
Control measures: as with pine beetles.
Cornezhil black (Hylastes ater)
The beetles are black or black-brown. They damage the roots of young pines and also develop under the bark and in the root part of the trunk of weakened trees. The main years are in April-June. The uterine tract is longitudinal, usually straight, occasionally oblique. Larval passages are frequent and highly intertwined. Beetles usually hibernate.
Control measures: as with pine beetles.
Six-toothed bark beetle (Ips sexdentatus)
Damages Crimean and Scots pines, especially recently transplanted and weakened ones. The beetles are active from spring to autumn, fly in May, additional food passes under the bark in the passages that they gnaw in different directions. 1-4 long (up to 40 cm, often much longer) uterine passages extend up and down from the nuptial chamber. Larval passages are sparse, short, rapidly expanding. Beetles overwinter in old tunnels or in litter. In years with high summer temperatures it can produce up to three generations.
Control and prevention measures: treatment of transplanted trees, especially those planted near large pine tracts, with drugs Caesar, Talstar, Balazo and others based on bifenthrin. Preventative treatment should be carried out in early April. To avoid mass reproduction of bark beetles and death of pine trees, carefully monitor the appearance of the first signs of pest infestation (holes in the trunk, drill flour).
The unpretentiousness of coniferous plants is not always the key to their successful cultivation in the garden. Therefore, it is so important to use preventive measures, timely identification of pests and implementation of correct measures to combat them.

* All drugs are given for informational purposes only, keep an eye out for the availability of these drugs in the official publication “Pesticides and Agrochemicals Permitted for Use in Ukraine”.

The material was prepared by an employee of the online store GREENMARKET.COM.UA
Svetlana Gamayunova, Ph.D.

Spindle pine scale - Leucaspis lowi (synonyms Anamaspis loewi; Anamaspis lowi; Leucodiaspis loewi; Leucodiaspis lowi)