Neodiprion sertifer

Hymenoptera: Diprionidae

Identification
• Larvae are caterpillarlike, up to 1" long, dark and light green striped with large black heads. They have 7 pairs of prolegs behind the three pairs of true legs. (a)
• The larvae feed in a group, lying lengthwise along the pine needles.
• When approached, the larvae in a group quickly raise their front and rear ends in unison.
• Adult is wasplike and dark-colored.

Damage
• Larval feeding occurs in spring on the older needles. The green, outer edges of needle is eaten, leaving a central brown core which dries, curls, and falls off. (b)
• The larvae do not feed on the developing candle.
• Damaged branches are bare with only first-year needles at the tip.

Management
• Hand remove the larvae or prune off the branch on which they occur.
• Spray with a chemical insecticide.
• Tolerate the damage. With live needles at the tip, the branch will not die.