Neodiprion sertifer

European pine sawfly
Neodiprion sertifer larvae on a pine in Dordogne France
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Symphyta
Superfamily: Tenthredinoidea
Family: Diprionidae
Genus: Neodiprion
Species: N. sertifer
Binomial name
Neodiprion sertifer
(Geoffroy) 1785
Subspecies

See text

Neodiprion sertifer, the European pine sawfly or red pine sawfly,[1] is a sawfly species in the genus Neodiprion. Although native to Europe, it was accidentally introduced to North America in 1925.[2]

The larvae of Exhyalanthrax afer feed on N. sertifer cocoons.

(+)-Catechin 7-O-β-glucoside, isorhamnetin 3,7,4′-tri-O-β-glucoside, kaempferol 3,7,4′-tri-O-β-glucoside and quercetin 3,7,4′-tri-O-β-glucoside can be isolated from the hemolymph of N. sertifer. None of these compounds is present in the needles of P. sylvestris, therefore, these flavonoid glucosides are produced by the larvae from flavonoid monoglucosides and (+)-catechin obtained from the pine needles.[3]

Life cycle

The European pine sawfly typically hatches from early April to late May. The larvae feed on existing pine needles. When they mature, they spin into cocoons. In the fall, they leave their cocoons as wasp-like creatures and mate. September and October are when the female lays eggs in pine trees for the next generation. Their favorite trees are Scots pine, red pine, Jack pine, and Japanese pines.[4][5]

Pest

The European pine sawfly is considered a pest as it eats a lot of needles. While this can stunt the growth of the tree, it rarely is enough to kill the tree. For controlling it, one can use natural parasites, remove the eggs from the tree, or spray pesticides. Any standard pesticide sprayed on them during their larval stage will kill them. Spraying is usually done very early, often when they're first spotted.

Damage from a European pine sawfly outbreak from the previous year. Growth on the edge of the branch came after the sawflies were killed. Second year growth is the first that gets eaten. Here, older growth survived due to pesticide use. 
These sawflies were likely hatched within one day of the picture being taken. The brown stripes you see on the needles are from the eggs. The tiny black spots near the bud are the sawflies. 
An Austrian pine that has been partially eaten by sawflies. 
Cluster of European pine sawflies eating on an Austrian pine. This picture was taken in mid-May, when the sawflies have been eating for about a month at this point. 
Larvae clusters found on a dwarf mugo pine in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA, August 6, 2015. Damaged branches can be seen below. Red head of larvae can be seen clearly in the close-up of the cluster. 

See also

References

  1. ↑ Krokene, Paal (6 December 2014). "The common pine sawfly – a troublesome relative". Science Nordic. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Wilson, Louis. "European Pine Sawfly" (PDF). US Department of Agriculture. US Government Printing Office. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  3. ↑ Flavonoid Metabolites in the Hemolymph of European Pine Sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer) Larvae. Matti Vihakas, Petri Tähtinen, Vladimir Ossipov and Juha-Pekka Salminen, Journal of Chemical Ecology, May 2012, Volume 38, Issue 5, pages 538-546, doi:10.1007/s10886-012-0113-y
  4. ↑ David J. Shetlar. "European Pine Sawfly". Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Katherine Mazzey, Michael Masiuk. "European Pine Sawfly Fact Sheet". Retrieved 11 January 2013.
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