Which statement best describes a primary growth distortion caused by Nantucket pine tip moth?

Which statement best describes a primary growth distortion caused by Nantucket pine tip moth?

• A. Forked leaders are a common symptom
• B. Buds swell unusually large
• C. Leaves develop purple coloration
• D. Roots become shallow and weak

Answer: (A)

Nantucket pine tip moth targets the terminal shoots, and the larva feeding disrupts the normal growth at the growing tip. When the apex is damaged, the new growth often splits into two or more developing leaders instead of one straight leader, giving a forked appearance. That distinctive forked leader is the hallmark symptom of this pest’s impact on growth, so describing forked leaders as a common symptom best captures what the moth does to the tree’s crown. Other listed signs—unusually large swollen buds, purple leaves, or shallow roots—don’t reflect the way this pest distorts the new shoot growth at the tip.

Nantucket pine tip moth targets the terminal shoots, and the larva feeding disrupts the normal growth at the growing tip. When the apex is damaged, the new growth often splits into two or more developing leaders instead of one straight leader, giving a forked appearance. That distinctive forked leader is the hallmark symptom of this pest’s impact on growth, so describing forked leaders as a common symptom best captures what the moth does to the tree’s crown. Other listed signs—unusually large swollen buds, purple leaves, or shallow roots—don’t reflect the way this pest distorts the new shoot growth at the tip.