viewed the literature on the biology, ecology, and control of the 
European pine sawfly. 
Neodiprion excitans Rohwer occurs from Virginia to Florida 
and west to Texas. Loblolly and shortleaf pines are its preferred 
hosts. Slash, longleaf, pond, and Sondregger pines are also at- 
tacked but to a much lesser extent (709). The full-grown larva is 
olive-green and about 25 mm. long. (fig. 181). Its head is glossy 
black, there are two longitudinal black stripes on the dorsum, a 
row of black spots on each side, and a large black spot on the last 
abdominal segment. 
Winter is spent mostly in cocoons, but occasionally in the egg 
stage or as older larvae. Adult appearance begins in early spring 
and continues until it reaches a peak in late summer. Egg laying 
begins in March by the female inserting her eggs in slits cut near 
the bases of needles. Needles closest to the tips of exposed shoots 
are chosen during spring and fall, whereas needles on shaded 
shoots are chosen during hot weather. The peak of egg laying 
occurs in July or August in east Texas and from late August to 
October in the Southeast. Newly-hatched larvae are gregarious, 
often with several encircling a single needle. Older larvae feed 
singly or in pairs on a single needle, preferably older needles. 
They usually eat most of the needle, leaving only a stub. Some- 
times they attack the needle at the base first, causing the re- 
mainder of the needle to fall. When a branch is completely 
defoliated, the larvae migrate in groups to other branches or 
trees. Full-grown larvae either drop to the ground and spin 
tough, light to dark brown cocoons in the duff or loose topsoil, or 
remain on the tree and spin their cocoons on twigs, needles, or 
F-514368 
FIGURE 181.—Larva of 
Neodiprion excitans. 
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