Sawflies

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37. Sawflies are a little known group closely related to wasps. Some immature sawflies resemble caterpillars and feed in much the same manner.

38. This is the European pine sawfly. Colonies like this one can cause serious defoliation on red, Scots, and mugho pine.

39. Sawflies can be distinguished from caterpillars by counting the number of fleshy prolegs they have. Caterpillars have five pairs or less; sawflies six pairs or more. The bright red heads easily identify this pest as the redheaded pine sawfly. All species of pines as well as larch and deodar cedar are subject to attack. Sawflies, like caterpillars, often have grown too large and have done extensive damage before they are noticed and control measures are taken. Proper treatment with insecticides will control them effectively if they are applied when the pests are small.

40. Not all sawflies attack conifers, and some of them are more slug-like than caterpillar-like. The dogwood sawfly feeds on ozier dogwood leaves, and its body is covered with a white, waxy powder.

41. Rose leaves with windows eaten in them may have been attacked by rose slugs. This pest eats only the soft part of each leaf leaving a network of veins and the transparent leaf surface. This damage is called skeletonizing. Rose slug damage occurs only in the spring, but a second species, the bristly rose slug, attacks roses in late summer. Skeletonized leaves turn brown and crisp, fooling some gardeners into believing they have rust , a plant disease.

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	37. Sawflies are a little known group closely related to wasps. Some immature sawflies resemble caterpillars and feed in much the same manner.
	38. This is the European pine sawfly. Colonies like this one can cause serious defoliation on red, Scots, and mugho pine.
	39. Sawflies can be distinguished from caterpillars by counting the number of fleshy prolegs they have. Caterpillars have five pairs or less; sawflies six pairs or more. The bright red heads easily identify this pest as the redheaded pine sawfly. All species of pines as well as larch and deodar cedar are subject to attack. Sawflies, like caterpillars, often have grown too large and have done extensive damage before they are noticed and control measures are taken. Proper treatment with insecticides will control them effectively if they are applied when the pests are small.
	40. Not all sawflies attack conifers, and some of them are more slug-like than caterpillar-like. The dogwood sawfly feeds on ozier dogwood leaves, and its body is covered with a white, waxy powder.
	41. Rose leaves with windows eaten in them may have been attacked by rose slugs. This pest eats only the soft part of each leaf leaving a network of veins and the transparent leaf surface. This damage is called skeletonizing. Rose slug damage occurs only in the spring, but a second species, the bristly rose slug, attacks roses in late summer. Skeletonized leaves turn brown and crisp, fooling some gardeners into believing they have rust , a plant disease.