are deposited in short rows of three to 10 eggs each on the pre- 
vious year’s needles. The larvae spin loose webbing about them- 
selves and feed gregariously on the old needles. Young larvae cut 
the needles off just above the bundle sheaths and pull them into 
the webbing, where they are consumed. Older larvae feed singly 
from within individual silken tubes spun around themselves along 
twigs. Considerable amounts of frass and bits of needles usually 
adhere to the exterior of these tubes (fig. 174). Full-grown larvae 
drop to and enter the ground for hibernation. There is one gen- 
eration per year. Heavy infestations sometimes develop locally, 
causing severe defoliation. 
COURTESY CONN. AGR. EXPT. STA. 
FIGURE 174.—Damage and 
webbing by the pine false 
webworm, Acantholyda er- 
ythrocephala. 
Acantholyda zappei (Rohwer), the nesting-pine sawfly, occurs 
in southern Canada and the Northeastern, Central, and Lake 
States. Its hosts are various species of pines such as red, jack, 
Austrian, pitch, and Japanese red. A full-grown larva is green, 
with a brown head and a dark green dorsal stripe, and is about 
18 to 25 mm. long. Eggs are laid singly on young needles of the 
current year’s growth from late June to early July. Young larvae 
spin webs about themselves and fasten the outer threads to the 
needles. Needles are cut off near the base and drawn into the web 
where they are consumed. Webs are increased in size as the larvae 
434 
