Lygusbugs are known to cause growth disorders on young Scots pine seedlings. The affect of timing of the damage on the disorder symptoms was studied on 2–3‐year‐old pine seedlings by exposing the seedlings toLygusbugs at different times between June and September. Early season exposure was found to cause the strongest visible deformations on current year buds and the following year shoots. Latent bud damage, that inhibited budset in the subsequent growing season, was found on seedlings that were exposed to bugs in late July and early August. No growth disorders were detected on the seedlings exposed to bugs late in the season.