Winter is spent in the egg stage and hatching occurs in May or June. The larvae 
feed gregariously on previous year’s needles only. Feeding is completed by early 
July. The larvae then drop to the ground and spin cocoons in the duff and top layers 
of the soil. Adults appear in late August and early September and lay three to five 
eggs in each needle, with the full complement of eggs on the needles of one twig. 
There is one generation per year. 
Older, open-grown trees are more subject to infestation than young trees or trees 
in closed stands. Even-aged stands and plantations are especially attractive. Mor- 
tality from a single defoliation seldom occurs, but it may result from several 
successive defoliations. Generally, the most serious damage results from gradual 
reduction in vigor and growth of the affected trees. Late spring frosts and a 
polyhedrosis virus disease are often effective in the control of heavy infestations. 
Direct and preventive methods of control are discussed (387). 
Neodiprion pratti paradoxicus Ross has been recorded from Maryland to Nova 
Scotia and Ontario. Its hosts are pitch, Scotch, shortleaf, and jack pines. Full-grown 
larvae have black heads, and the body is marked with very pale lateral stripes. 
Supraspiracular spots are usually partially or entirely lacking in the middle of the 
body. Widespread outbreaks have occurred in pitch and shortleaf pine stands in 
New Jersey. 
Neodiprion taedae taedae Ross, the spotted loblolly pine sawfly, has been 
recorded from eastern Virginia. Its favored host is loblolly pine, but it also 
occasionally feeds on shortleaf pine. Full-grown larvae are greenish white and 
about 22 mm long. The head is reddish brown, and there is a dull grayish-green 
longitudinal stripe on each side of the dorsum. There is also a row of black spots 
just above the spiracular line that extends from the second thoracic to the ninth 
abdominal segment, and there are two black blotches on top of the tenth segment. 
Winter is spent in the egg stage, and hatching occurs in late April or early May. 
The larvae feed on old needles and reach maturity in about 30 days, fall to the 
ground where they enter the soil a few centimeters, and spin cocoons. Adults appear 
about mid-October and lay their eggs in rows on the sides of needles. There is one 
generation per year. 
Since the new foliage is not eaten, infested trees are not completely defoliated or 
killed. Infestations occur more commonly in understocked pine stands where the 
trees retain their lower branches. The life history of this species was discussed 
under the name N. americanum (Leach) (563). 
The loblolly pine sawfly, N. taedae linearis Ross, long recognized as a pest of 
loblolly pine in Arkansas, is now known to occur also in Louisiana, southeast 
Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois. As far as known, 
loblolly and shortleaf pines are its only hosts; loblolly is preferred. Full-grown 
larvae are dull green and about 25 mm long. There are heavy black stripes along 
each side and often two lighter stripes below the heavier, black ones. 
Winter is spent in the egg stage. Hatching occurs from early March to early May, 
depending on location. Young larvae feed gregariously in groups, often encircling 
the needles about half way from end to end, and partially girdling them. Infested 
terminals soon take on a reddened appearance. Older larvae feed singly or in pairs 
and consume the entire needle, leaving short stubs on the branch. They still retain 
their gregarious habit, however, and move in a group from branch to branch (fig. 
181). For the most part, only the older foliage is eaten, but on shortleaf pine the 
terminal buds and tender bark on the new growth are also occasionally eaten (256). 
Full-grown larvae drop to the ground and spin mahogany-colored cocoons in the 
387 
