PINE SAWFLY. 223 



foliated, and attacks lasting from May to September (second brood). 

 Their power of reproduction is wonderful ; and but for useful insects 

 and fungus diseases checking them, they would soon destroy extensive 

 woods. They mostly attack young plantations, and often confine them- 

 selves to one spot at a time. 



Wing-span of ? about in., antennae short and bristly, with 18 to 30 

 joints, head black, body yellowish with black spots on thorax and abdomen, 

 and three black rings on abdomen ; wing-span of (J in., body black, 

 legs yellowish, antennae combed or double-feathered. The light yellowish- 

 green tailed caterpillars, 1 in. long, have 22 legs, a light-brown head, and 

 2 black dots at every proleg, and when touched, raise their heads. 

 Pupa is enclosed in a tough, oval, brown cocoon in bark fissures, on twigs 

 and needles, or under moss and dead foliage on the ground. Cocoon 

 opens by a circular lid, unless attacked by ichneumon-flies, when its top 

 is marked thus 0. 



In dry warm seasons there may be two broods. The sawflies appear 

 mostly in May, and lay about 120 eggs on the edges of Pine-needles, after 

 scratching them with a saw-like egg-layer (hence "sawfly"), about 15 

 being laid in one needle and each wound sealed up with frothy slime. 

 Caterpillars hatch out in about a fortnight, collect in clusters on the 

 whorls of young Pine in sunny places or on suppressed stems, and at first 

 usually feed in pairs on each needle, eating the edges and leaving the 

 midrib standing ; but when nearly full-grown they eat all the needle. For- 

 tunately they only feed on old, and not on new leaves. They moult several 

 times, leaving the cast skins sticking to twigs. In July they pupate in 

 their peculiar leathery cocoons, and in 2 to 3 weeks the sawflies emerge, 

 pair, and lay eggs for a second brood. This second brood hatches out in 

 August, and feeds till autumn, then descends to hibernate (as larvae) 

 under moss or dead leaves, and only pupates in the following spring, about 

 three weeks before emerging as sawflies. But even single broods may 

 pupate for a year or longer before emerging as sawflies. 



Extermination Insectivorous birds should be provided with nesting- 

 boxes. The caterpillars, when collected in. clusters, maybe crushed by 

 pulling the gloved hand firmly along the twigs from below upwards, or 

 using a C-spring double brush ; or they may be shaken down if poles large 

 enough ; or if noticed early, spraying with insecticide is effective (such 

 as hellebore- wash, 2 Ibs. to 10 gallons water, or arsenate of lead or Paris- 

 green, 1 Ib. to 150 gallons water) ; but these poisons require careful 

 handling. 



* The Red Sawfly, Lophyrus rufus, often attacks along with L. pini, 

 and mostly Scots Pine 2 to 6 ft. high. 



Flies in August and September : 9 ruddy brown or yellow, with black 

 spots on thorax ; <J smaller, glossy black, with first abdominal ring and 



