Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Evergreen Trees and Shrubs > Pine > Missing or chewed needles
Pine > Needles > Missing or chewed needles
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European pine sawfly
Neodiprion sertifer
- Larva feed only on old (last year's) needles
- Needles chewed on by young larvae become discolored and straw-like
- Larvae feed in colonies, feeding on one branch at time
- Active from May to June; one generation per year
- Feeds particularly on mugo, Scots, red and jack pines
- Larvae have shiny, black heads, grey, green body with dark green stripes; they are ¾ - 1 inch long when fully grown
- More information on European pine sawfly
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Redheaded pine sawfly
Neodiprion lecontei
- Larvae feed on both old (last year's) and new needles
- Larvae feed in colonies, feeding one branch at a time
- Feeding by young larvae leave needles dry and straw-like
- Active between mid-June and late July and again from mid-August and late September; two generations occur per year (primarily in southern MN)
- Prefers young pine (5 - 20 foot tall); many species of pines are attacked, especially red and jack pines
- Larvae are ¾ to 1 inch long when fully grown; they are yellow with rows of black spots and reddish brown head
- More information on Redheaded pine sawfly
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Introduced pine sawfly
Diprion similes
- Missing needles on old (last year's) needles; can also feed on new growth
- Needles chewed on by young larvae become discolored and straw-like
- Larvae feed in colonies, feeding on one branch at a time
- Active from late May/early June to early July and again from late July through early September; two generations per year
- Prefers white pine; will also feed on Scots, jack and red pine
- Larvae grow to ¾ - 1 inch in length; Larvae have black heads, a yellow-green body with a black double stripe and many yellow and black spots
- More information on Introduced pine sawfly
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Rabbit damage
- Bark from young trees only is completely removed from the main trunk
- Regular scraping the size of a spoon tip can be seen in the wood
- Damage can occur from ground level to several feet up the trunk depending on the depth of winter snow
- Small twigs are cleanly cut off with a sharp edge, at a 45 degree angle
- Majority of bark feeding occurs in winter and early spring
- Rabbit droppings (small, round pellets) are often found near the damaged shrubs
- More information on protecting trees and shrubs from animals
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Misc. sawflies
(jack, red and white pine sawflies)
- Missing needles
- Needles may be completely consumed, partially eaten or become straw-like from feeding
- Larvae feed gregariously (i.e. in nonsocial groups), on new or old needle growth
- Larvae 1 inch long or less, green or yellowish-green with spots or stripes
- Different pine species favored by different sawflies but most pine are susceptible
- More information on Sawflies
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Gypsy moth
Lymantria dispar
- Chew needles and occasionally defoliate conifers, particularly when small and adjacent to preferred hosts, such as aspen and oak
- Mature larvae are 2 inches long; upper side has five pairs of blue dots near front of body followed by six pairs of red dots down the back
- Damage occurs in June and July
- Is currently a federally quarantined pest in Minnesota; not established in Minnesota; if found, contact Arrest the Pest: 1-888-545-6684 or Arrest.the.Pest@state.mn.us
- More information on Gypsy moth
