Virginia pine sawfly, Neodiprion pratti pratti (Dyar) (1, 3, 11)

BIOLOGY. - The Virginia pine sawfly is the only sawfly known to damage pine strobili. There is one generation a year. Winter is spent in the egg stage. In the early spring, eggs hatch and the larvae feed in groups on the previous year's needles. Small larvae also devour buds, flowers, and the tender bark of twigs. Full-grown larvae drop to the ground and pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in late fall and deposit eggs in slits along the needles.

INSECT IDENTIFICATION. - Newly hatched larvae are pale green with shiny black head capsules. Full-grown larvae are spotted or marked with longitudinal black stripes. They are from 16 to 23 mm long. Adults are seldom seen.

DAMAGE IDENTIFICATION. - Large portions of unopened flower buds or flowers are eaten away; obvious foliage feeding leaves tufts of needle bases.

IMPORTANCE. - From 3 to over 9 percent of the shortleaf pine flower crop has been destroyed when sawfly populations were low. Much greater mortality of female flowers can probably be expected during sawfly epidemics.

Killed shortleaf pine flower buds and larvae (bottom). (3X)