European Pine Sawfly larva

Description:

The European Pine Sawfly is native to Europe and affects pines in landscapes, ornamental nurseries and Christmas tree plantations. Feeding by the larval stage of this pest will not kill the host plant, but can affect its aesthetic value. The mature larvae have shiny black heads and are grayish-green. They have a light stripe down the middle of their back, and a light stripe along each side followed by a dark green stripe running parallel down the length of their body. There are several parasites and native birds that feed on European pine sawfly larvae. Rodents often eat the pupae in the soil.

Habitat:

Eastern North America; Ontario south to Missouri, west to Iowa. Landscapes, nurseries, Christmas tree plantations. Host Plants: Mugo (Pinus mugo), Scotch (Pinus sylvestris), red (Pinus resinosa), jack (Pinus banksiana) and Japanese red(Pinus densiflora) pines. It feeds to a lesser extent on white (Pinus strobus), Austrian (Pinus nigra), ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa), shortleaf (Pinus echinata) and pitch (Pinus rigida) pines.