Host preference of the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.), was investigated in two laboratory choice test studies using red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) (Pinaceae), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Host preference of parent adult beetles was evaluated using freshly cut, similarly sized logs in a wind tunnel. Parent beetles colonized Scotch pine logs significantly more often when given a choice of Scotch pine and either red pine or jack pine logs, but did not show a preference when presented with red pine and jack pine logs. Host preference of progeny adults was tested in a laboratory bioassay using current-year pine shoots. Shoot-feeding progeny adults initiated tunnels in jack pine shoots significantly more often than in Scotch pine and red pine shoots, and preferred Scotch pine over red pine shoots. Shoots with diameters of 0.4–0.5 cm were attacked most frequently, regardless of species. Results suggest that the two North American pines are suitable hosts, but T. piniperda may be most likely to colonize Scotch pine, a European species. Efforts to detect or monitor T. piniperda populations in the Great Lakes and northeastern regions should focus on areas with abundant Scotch pine brood material. Progeny that emerge from brood material, however, may be as likely to shoot-feed in jack pine as in Scotch pine.