**Redheaded Pine Sawfly (Neodiprion lecontei)**

Overwinter as prepupae in small (½ inch), brown cocoons in the soil
Adults resemble flies or bees, ½” long, brown, with stout bodies
Females lay their eggs in slits they cut into needles and leaves
Larvae are immature wasps that resemble tiny caterpillars; they reach 1-inch-long worm-like insects having reddish heads, yellowish-white bodies, and black spots
Larvae feed in groups of a couple dozen or more & defoliate terminal branches; 2 generations per year
Some prepupae develop the following year, some take 2 or more years
Cause defoliation or plant death, needle discoloration, and straw-like needle remains with frass being found beneath the trees
Host plants: Conifers (spruces, cedars, larches)
- Shortleaf, loblolly, slash, jack, red, longleaf, pitch, Swiss, mountain, white, and mugo pines

Natural predators: birds, rodents, predatory beetles, parasitic wasps
Reduce plant stress
Hand pick and destroy isolated infestations
Strike branches to cause larvae to fall, and collect them in a bucket of soapy water

Materials:

Contact insecticides:
- Pyrethroids [3]: –thrins
- Carbamates [1A]: carbaryl
Considerations:
- Will impact non-target species. Be mindful of overapplying and timing of sprays.

Spinosyns [5]; Spinosad
Horticultural soaps and oils
- Effective on young larvae, but less so for larger larvae
Bt is not effective

Redheaded Pine Sawfly