Diprionidae
Guides
Diprion
conifer sawflies, pine sawflies
Diprion is a genus of conifer sawflies in the family Diprionidae, containing at least 12 described species. Species in this genus are significant defoliators of pine forests, with larvae feeding gregariously on pine needles. Outbreaks can cause substantial ecological and economic damage by defoliating thousands of forested acres. Adults are stingless wasps with a saw-like ovipositor used to insert eggs into conifer foliage. The genus includes both native and invasive species, with Diprion similis introduced to North America in 1914.
Diprion similis
Introduced Pine Sawfly, Imported Pine Sawfly, White Pine Sawfly
Diprion similis is a conifer-feeding sawfly native to central and northern Europe and Asia that has become invasive in North America following its accidental introduction around 1914. The species is notable for its arrhenotokous reproduction, where unfertilized eggs develop into male offspring, facilitating rapid population establishment. Larvae are gregarious defoliators of pine needles, with a strong preference for white pine (Pinus strobus) in North America. The species exhibits two generations per year in many regions, with second-generation larvae overwintering as prepupae in cocoons. Its invasive success has been attributed to parthenogenetic capabilities, lack of natural enemies in introduced ranges, and specialized pheromone communication involving the (2S,3R,7R)-propionate isomer of 3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol.
Exenterus amictorius
Exenterus amictorius is an ichneumonid parasitoid wasp introduced to North America that attacks sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), particularly during the pre-spinning eonymph stage. The species exhibits adaptive host discrimination behavior that changes during the host's spinning period, lacks discrimination initially but rapidly acquires and maintains this ability. It shows strong positive density-dependent responses to host abundance and has established successfully on multiple diprionid hosts across North America. In multiparasitism situations with the native E. diprionis, E. amictorius consistently survives due to faster larval development.
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conifer sawflies
Gilpinia is a genus of conifer sawflies in the family Diprionidae, comprising approximately 20 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. Several species are significant forest pests, notably G. hercyniae (European spruce sawfly) and G. polytoma, which feed on spruce (Picea) species. The genus exhibits complex life history strategies including facultative diapause and variable voltinism (one to three generations annually) depending on geographic location and climate. Species identification relies heavily on morphological examination of the ovipositor, male genitalia, and wing coloration.
Gilpinia frutetorum
Nursery Pine Sawfly
Gilpinia frutetorum is a European conifer sawfly in the Diprionidae family, belonging to the G. socia species group. The species was first described by Fabricius in 1793. Ovipositor morphology has been described and illustrated in recent taxonomic work comparing European and Japanese Gilpinia species.
Monoctenus
Monoctenus is a genus of conifer-feeding sawflies in the family Diprionidae, established by Dahlbom in 1835. The genus includes at least two recognized species: M. juniperi and M. obscuratus. These sawflies are associated with juniper hosts and have been recorded from Europe and North America.
Neodiprion
Neodiprion is a genus of conifer sawflies in the family Diprionidae, containing approximately 25 species native to North America. Larvae are specialized folivores of pine needles, with most species exhibiting strong host associations with particular Pinus species. Several species, including N. lecontei and N. sertifer, are significant forest pests capable of causing extensive defoliation during outbreak years. The genus is distinguished from related sawflies by morphological and ecological traits associated with conifer specialization.
Neodiprion abietis
balsam fir sawfly
Neodiprion abietis, the balsam fir sawfly, is a conifer-feeding sawfly native to North America. Larvae are gregarious defoliators that feed preferentially on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) needles, with outbreaks capable of causing significant tree mortality in eastern Canadian forests. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in development, with females typically undergoing six instars over 35 days and males five instars over 30 days. Population dynamics are strongly regulated by a host-specific nucleopolyhedrovirus (NeabNPV), which has been developed as a registered biological insecticide (Abietiv™) for outbreak management.
Neodiprion compar
redheaded pine sawfly
Neodiprion compar is a conifer sawfly in the family Diprionidae, commonly known as the redheaded pine sawfly. The species is native to eastern North America and feeds primarily on pine needles. Larvae are gregarious and can cause significant defoliation during outbreaks, though populations are typically moderated by natural enemies. The species is one of approximately 25 conifer sawfly species found in eastern U.S. forests.
Neodiprion excitans
Black-headed Pine Sawfly
Neodiprion excitans, commonly known as the Black-headed Pine Sawfly, is a conifer-feeding sawfly in the family Diprionidae. It is native to eastern North America, with documented populations in North Carolina and surrounding regions. Like other members of its genus, it is a folivore that feeds on pine needles and can cause significant defoliation during outbreak conditions. The species has been studied for its population dynamics and ecological interactions in pine forest ecosystems.
Neodiprion fabricii
Fabricius's Sawfly
Neodiprion fabricii is a conifer sawfly species in the family Diprionidae, native to eastern North America. The larvae are folivores that feed on pine needles, with young larvae consuming partial needles and older larvae eating entire needles. This species is one of approximately 25 conifer sawfly species found in eastern U.S. forests and occasionally contributes to localized defoliation events. Adults are stingless wasps with a saw-like ovipositor used to insert eggs into conifer foliage.
Neodiprion lecontei
red-headed pine sawfly, Leconte's sawfly
Neodiprion lecontei is a pine-feeding sawfly native to eastern North America, commonly known as the red-headed pine sawfly. Adults are small (5–8.5 mm), sexually dimorphic, and active in spring and summer. Larvae are gregarious defoliators of pine needles, capable of stripping entire branches and causing significant damage to young trees and plantations. The species exhibits complex population dynamics with one to three generations per year depending on latitude, and has been extensively studied as a model for host-associated differentiation, gene expression decoupling across life stages, and baculovirus pathology.
Neodiprion pinetum
White Pine Sawfly
Neodiprion pinetum is a conifer-feeding sawfly native to eastern North America. Adults are broad-bodied, stingless wasps with females bearing a saw-like ovipositor used to insert eggs into pine needles. Larvae are creamy-yellow with black heads and four longitudinal rows of black spots, resembling caterpillars but possessing more prolegs. The species is frequently monophagous on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), though larvae have been documented on several other pine species. Localized outbreaks occur regularly and can kill small stands of host trees, though natural enemies including egg and larval parasitoids typically provide substantial biological control.
Neodiprion virginianus
Neodiprion virginianus is a conifer sawfly (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) that feeds on jack pine (Pinus banksiana). It is part of a species complex with variable taxonomy. The species has been documented causing localized defoliation outbreaks in northeastern North America, with populations capable of sudden collapse. Larvae are gregarious folivores that consume pine needles.
Zadiprion rohweri
Pinyon Pine Sawfly
Zadiprion rohweri, commonly known as the Pinyon Pine Sawfly, is a species of conifer-feeding sawfly in the family Diprionidae. It is associated with pinyon pine (Pinus edulis and related species) in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species was described by Middleton in 1931 and is one of several Zadiprion species specialized on pine hosts. Sawflies in this genus are known for gregarious larval feeding that can cause noticeable defoliation.
Zadiprion townsendi
bull pine sawfly
Zadiprion townsendi, commonly known as the bull pine sawfly, is a species of conifer sawfly in the family Diprionidae (Hymenoptera). The genus Zadiprion is a small group of sawflies whose larvae feed on pine needles. This species is associated with bull pine (Pinus ponderosa), serving as a defoliator of this economically important timber species. Like other diprionid sawflies, Z. townsendi undergoes complete metamorphosis with larval stages that feed gregariously on host foliage.