Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) emerged in France in the past 15 years. This disease is induced by two closely related species Dothistroma septosporum and D. pini. While both species are nowadays present in France, only D. septosporum was reported in the past. We investigated whether a recent arrival of D. pini in France could be a cause of the DNB emergence. We analysed herbarium specimens of pine needle with DNB symptoms using PCR techniques to study the past frequency of D. pini in France. We also determined the present distribution within the country of D. septosporum and D. pini and compared it to the spatial pattern of DNB report in the DSF data base (french forest health monitoring agency). Although D. pini was detected on herbarium specimens from 1907 and 1965, it was not frequent in France in the past. It is nowadays frequent although not present throughout the country, being absent from the north and the east. There is no relationship between the D. pini distribution in France and the spatial pattern of DNB report in the DSF database. Thus, the emergence of DNB in France cannot be explained by a recent arrival of D. pini.