They are polyphagous in coniferous trees (mainly feeding on Pinus sylvestris, Pinus mugo and Pinus nigra, but also on Picea abies and Abies or Larix species).
Some scientists hypothesize that long-distance movements originating from the Iberian Peninsula may have contributed to their invasion of northern Norway spruce forests.
Piceatannol and its glucoside, astringin, are phenolic compounds found in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots of Norway spruces (Picea abies).
The species of spruce, Picea abies (Norway spruce), is not native to Scotland; the posts were presumably driftwood carried across from Scandinavia.
Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and Picea abies (variously known as Norwegian, German, Alpine, Italian or European spruce) are particularly valued for finger-style and classical guitars for its quicker musical response and broader tonal profile.
Picea abies | Picea engelmannii | Abies balsamea | Abies amabilis | Picea mariana | Abies lasiocarpa | Picea glauca | Abies grandis | Abies alba | Picea sitchensis | Picea glehnii | Abies numidica | Abies nordmanniana |
During the 1960–70s, the woods were largely felled and replanted—predominantly with Norway Spruce (Picea abies) and oak, with lesser amounts of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) and beech.