The introduced pine sawfly was first recorded in North America in 1914 at New Haven, Connecticut on nursery stock from Holland and has since spread throughout most of northeastern North America. Their sides are yellow and white and their heads are shiny black. The larvae of the introduced pine sawfly, an exotic defoliator insect, are greenish yellow in colour and have a double longitudinal stripe on the body. The introduced pine sawfly (Diprion similis) larva is about an inch in length, yellowish green with two black stripes down the back with mottled sides, and a black head. DESCRIPTION Adult-Like a fly in appearance, the introduced pine sawfly differs from a fly in that it has two pairs of wings. The male sawfly is brown and black with broad, feathery antennae and averages 7 mm long. Consulted the Exec Director of Audubon here in CT and he did not know. Introduced Pine Sawfly Diprion similis (Hartig), Diprionidae, HYMENOPTERA. In August to September, the adult European pine sawflies emerge from their cocoons to mate and lay eggs. Introduced pine sawfly spend the winter in cocoons on foliage, twigs, and other substrates. Photo credit: USDA Forest Serv., Region 8, Bugwood.org. Female sawflies emit a sex pheromone that helps the male locate females for mating purposes. Adults emerge in early May and lay eggs that hatch in late May. The larvae feed primarily on white pine and other five-needle pines, The white pine sawfly ( Neodiprion pinetum ) larva is cream color with four rows of black spots on the body and a black head. Yellow-headed spruce sawfly larva. Subject: Caterpillar Geographic location of the bug: NW corner Connecticut Date: 08/19/2019 Time: 07:15 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Looking for an ID. Life Cycle - European Pine Sawfly. First generation larvae prefer previous year's needles but second generation will feed on old and current year foliage. Introduced pine sawfly primarily on white pine, but also on Scotch and red and Austrian pine. Appearance: Larvae have black heads, a double black stripe running the length of the top of its body with many yellow, white and black spots. The female sawfly is black and yellow with threadlike antennae and averages 8 mm long. Introduced pine sawfly. It attacks trees of all sizes, but can especially be a problem on nursery and plantation trees. Life cycle: Spend the winter as prepupae in cocoons on twigs. They are 20 - 25 mm (3/4 - 1") when full grown. Management: Trees of all ages are attacked, but the insect seems to prefer ornamental, nursery, or plantation trees. Introduced pine sawfly larva. A sign confirming the pest’s presence, aside from direct sightings of larvae or adult insects, is the remains of hollowed out, yellowed needles. Sawfly larvae are often mistaken for caterpillars, but are actually a primitive group of insects related to wasps and bees. Redheaded spruce sawfly larvae on Scotch pine. How you want your … Add Comment.