European pine sawfly
The European pine sawfly, scientifically known as Neodiprion sertifer, is an insect belonging to the Hymenoptera order, which also includes species such as wood wasps and horntails. Characterized by its simple body structure, the sawfly can grow up to two inches long and lacks the distinct wasp waist seen in more advanced insects. This species possesses two pairs of membranous wings and strong mandibles, which it uses to feed on pine tree needles.
European pine sawflies are particularly noted for their potential as pests, as they can strip trees of their needles, leading to significant damage in pine plantations. Their life cycle begins in spring when females lay eggs using a saw-like ovipositor, and the larvae hatch in late April or May. After feeding on pine needles for about two weeks, the larvae enter a pupal stage, during which they undergo transformation before emerging as adults. The adult sawflies typically live for about two weeks, continuing the cycle. Understanding the biology and behavior of this sawfly can be crucial for managing its impact on forestry and ecosystems.
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European pine sawfly
The European pine sawfly belongs to the division of the order Hymenoptera which includes sawflies, wood wasps, and horntails. These insects are considered more primitive because of their simple body structures and the use of their ovipositors, or egg-laying devices, in reproduction. They are also called the redheaded pine sawfly.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Diprionidae
Genus: Neodiprion
Species: Sertifer
The European pine sawfly may grow two inches (five centimeters) long. Like other insects, its body is divided into three main parts—head, thorax, or mid-body section, and abdomen, or lower body section. Like other sawflies, the European pine sawfly does not have a wasp waist. A wasp waist is a moveable joint between the thorax and abdomen allowing the insect to move in precise ways. Instead of a wasp waist, the European pine sawfly has a broad thorax connected to the abdomen.
The body of the European pine sawfly includes two pairs of membranous wings, the front pair of which is typically the strongest. It also has a group of biting mouthparts including strong, powerful mandibles, or jaws. The European pine sawfly uses its mandibles to bite pine tree needles. Some groups of European pine sawflies have become pests because of their pine-needle-eating feeding habits. They are known to strip large plantations of pine trees of their needles.
Like many other sawflies, wood wasps, and horntails, the European pine sawfly mates during the warm weather of the spring. After mating, the female European pine sawfly deposits six to eight eggs into plant tissue such as leaves, stems, or wood. Like other sawflies, the female European pine sawfly lays eggs using her saw-like ovipositor, or egg-laying appendage. The use of the ovipositor is one difference between primitive and advanced species of Hymenoptera. While more primitive species use theirs to lay eggs, advanced species use theirs as stingers to inject poisons into their prey and attackers.
After the female has laid her eggs, the young go through a developmental period before hatching into caterpillar-like larvae in April or May. The larvae of the European pine sawfly feed on pine needles for about two weeks before moving into their next developmental stage in late May and early June. During this time, the larvae differ in appearance from caterpillars in their simple eyes and may have more than five pairs of legs.
After two weeks, the larvae rest in the bark of the pine trees as their bodies transform into adult European pine sawflies. This period of rest and transformation is called the pupal stage. During pupation, the larvae molt, or shed, their larval skin and grow their wings. After pupating, adult European pine sawflies emerge from the tree.
The average European pine sawfly lives for about two weeks after reaching adulthood.
Bibliography
"European Pine Sawfly, Neodiprion Sertifer." University of Wisconsin, hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/european-pine-sawfly. Accessed 1 May 2024.
"European Pine Sawfly." Pennsylvania State University, extension.psu.edu/european-pine-sawfly. Accessed 1 May 2024.