Conifer sawflies

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Forest Health Fact Sheet

FOREST PEST
MANAGEMENT
GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION

CONIFER SAWFLIES RECE,VEU

2 DEC. 1

1994

INTRODUCTION

DOCUMENTS

Conifer sawflies are a unique
group of defoliating insects. Eleven species are described in this fact sheet and most are generally distributed throughout the south wherever the preferred hosts grow. The larvae consume the needles and
feeding preferences are peculiar to
each species. Most all of the sawflies feed on old and current year foliage at some point in their development. Some species have one generation per year with defoliation occurring in the spring and others produce three or more generations with defoliation occurring on into fall. Fall defoliation has a greater impact on trees and
it is for this reason that sawflies having multiple generations are
considered more devastating.
Sawfly adults resemble large house flies but are actually broad-
waisted wasps. The females are equipped with an ovipositor that

is serrated which enables them

to saw little slits in the needles

where eggs are laid; thus the

name

,!
"sawflies.

It's important

for foresters to recognize sawflies

and the damage they do.

Defoliation by sawflies is spo-

radic, occurring in localized or

regionwide outbreaks lasting

one or more years. Growth loss

the year following a severe defo-

liation (> 75%) can average over

50 percent and mortality

increases due to secondary inva-

sion by bark beetles and pine

sawyers.

The red-headed pine sawfly is

the most widely distributed

species in the south and is usu-

ally the species responsible for

regionwide outbreaks covering

several states. It is capable of

producing 3 or more generations

per year in the south.

Management practices have

been developed to reduce the

severity of sawflies and they should be considered before planting. Although most of the
southern conifers are adaptable to a wide range of site conditions, it is always advisable to match the tree species to sites favoring that
species. The management suggestions that may reduce the
severity of sawflies in the south
are:
Consider herbicides to reduce hardwood competition. Avoid planting on wet or dry
soils.
Avoid sites below an index of
65.
Monitor plantations frequently for sawfly damage. Most infestations begin on the edges of stands
or are localized in a portion of the stand. Control with insecticides
is most effective at this stage.
For more information about
GFC sawflies contact your local
office or call toll-free
1-800-GATREES

scribed as either spring or summer feeders. The spring sawjlics are present in early spring and may he found feeding into the summer, i he summerfeeding sawflies are present from spring until the first hard freeze. Thefollowing descriptions and distribution infonnation is general in nature and some variations may occur depending upon the species. Host descriptions are limited to southern species and
those noted in parenthesis are rarely, or occasionally \ed on.
The following drawings were done by Randall Blackburn, formally with the Smithsonian Institute. Washington, D. C. 20560. Bill Hoffard, an entomologist with the U.S. Forest Service,
FPM reviewed the fact sheet for southwide distribution.
Spotted Loblolly Pine Sawfly Neodiprion taedae taedae

Distinctive Markings: greenish -white, red-brown head, a dull gray-green stripe on each side of body, a row of black spots just above the midline, two black blotches on top of tenth bodv segment

Hosts: loblolly and shortleaf Present: Spring to July Distribution: North Carolina, Eastern
Virginia, (scattered in southeast)

Virginia Pine Sawfly Neodiprion pratti pratti

Distinctive Markings: black head, body spotted or marked with longitudinal black stripes

Hosts: Virginia and shortleaf pines Present: Spring to July Distribution: North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee

White Pine Sawfly Neodiprion pinetum

Distinctive Markings: pale yellow with 4 row-- ol black -

Hosts: eastern white pine Present: Spring to July

Slash Pine Sawfly Neodiprion merkeli


Distinctive Markings: reddish above the eyes and sooty black below the eyes, brown stripes and two widely separated black semi-oval spots near tail end

Hosts: slash pine
Present: Spnngto December
Distribution: Georgia, Florida

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Hetrick's Sawfly Neodiprion hetricki

Distinctive Markings: black head and black subdorsal and lateral stripes, (Florida specimen are pale green with laintstnpes, head is pale amber and bears a yellow triangular spot with a large pentagonal marking

Hosts: observed feeding on loblolly, pond and longleaf
Present: April to July Distribution: Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia

Warren's Sawfly Neodiprion warreni

Distinctive Markings: shiny black head, broad black

Hosts: spruce and shortleaf pines

subdorsal, lateral and sublateral stnpes

Present: Spring to December

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Distribution: S.E. Arkansas to North Florida |

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Blackheaded Pine Sawfly Neodiprion excitans

Distinctive Markings: olive green, head is glossy black,

Hosts: loblolly and shortleaf pines (Slash,

two longitudinal black stripes on the side, with a row of

Longleaf, Pond, Spruce and Sand Pines)

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black spots on each side and a large black spot on the

Present: Spring to December

last body segment

Distribution: Virginia to Florida and west to

Arkansas and Texas (probably southwide)
mm

Red-Headed Pine Sawf ly Neodiprion lecontei

Distinctive Markings: reddish head, yellowish-

Hosts: shortleaf, loblolly, slash, longleaf,

white body with six rows of black spots

pitch, (eastern white pine, deodar cedar). Present:Spring to December (probably year-

round in South Florida)

::

Distribution: Eastern United States

Abbott's Sawf ly Neodiprion abbottii

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Distinctive Markings: brown to black head, thorax and abdomen pale green, four dark green
to black lateral stnpes

Hosts: loblolly, shortleaf, slash and longleaf Present: Spnng to December Distribution: Wisconsin to Flonda

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Introduced Pine Sawfly Diprion similis

Distinctive Markings: shiny black head, body has a double black strip bordered by yellow along the back; sides are dark and motted with numerous rounded yellow and white spots

Hosts: eastern white pine (shortleaf and
Virginia pines) Present: Spring to first freeze (December)
Distribution: North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee

Loblolly Pine Sawfly Neodiprion taedae

Distinc tivi

*

!

n heavy black stripes

1 [osts loblolly and shortleal

along each side and often two lighter stripes below

Present Spring to July

tlie heavier ones

Distribution Arkansas, Louisiana, S.E Texas,

I

1

Mississippi, South ( arolina, (Probably southwide)

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