Click on the small image to view a larger image. Every year about this time small green European pine sawflies strip the needles of from two needled pines before new needles are produced in the spring. Commonly affected trees include Mugo, Scotch and Austrian pine. Young larvae are dark green and difficult to see.
Needles consumed by young larvae resemble slender brown straw.
As damage accumulates, more straws become visible on branches. Late instar larvae grow to one inch and are dark green with a black head and black longitudinal stripes. Adults emerge in early April. First chewed needles are visible in mid- to late April. Sawfly larvae are easily killed by most broad spectrum insecticides, insect growth regulators, botanicals, or insecticidal soap or oil.