Virginia pine sawfly
Neodiprion pratti pratti (Dyar) (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae)
Orientation to pest
Virginia pine sawfly, Neodiprion pratti pratti (Dyar), is a native North American sawfly that feeds on Virginia (Pinus virginiana Mill.) and shortleaf (Pinus echinata Mill.) pines. It is found from New Jersey (USA) south to North Carolina and west to Illinois. The winter is passed as eggs, which hatch in early spring. Larvae feed gregariously on old needles. Mature larvae drop from foliage to the ground, where they spin cocoons in the duff and pupate. Adults emerge in late summer and lay eggs individually in needles. There is one generation per year. Trees attacked by this sawfly are not killed, but tree growth in forests is reduced. A large outbreak of this species (5.6 million acres) occurred in the 1950s in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Note, this species should not to be confused with Neodiprion pratti (Dyar), a species associated with sand pine (Pinus clausa [Chapm. ex Engelm.] Sarg.).
Hosts commonly attacked
Virginia pine sawfly feeds on Virginia (Pinus virginiana Mill.) and shortleaf (Pinus echinata Mill.) pines.
Distribution
Virginia pine sawfly is found from New Jersey (USA) south to North Carolina and west to Illinois.
Images of Virginia pine sawfly
| Figure 1. Adult male of Virginia pine sawfly, Neodiprion pratti pratti | Figure 2. Egg scars of Virginia pine sawfly on pine needles | Figure 3. Larvae of Virginia pine sawfly |
| Figure 4. Feeding damage of Virginia pine sawfly | Figure 5. Pine stand defoliated by Virginia pine sawfly |
Important biological control agents related to this pest species
No information was found on the natural enemies of this species.
