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Cephalcia
spruce web-spinning sawflies
Cephalcia is a genus of web-spinning sawflies in the family Pamphiliidae, established by Panzer in 1803. Species are distributed across Europe, North America, and Asia. Larvae feed primarily on conifer needles, particularly spruce (Picea) and larch (Larix), and construct silk webs for protection while feeding. Several species are significant forest pests capable of causing defoliation during population outbreaks. The genus exhibits complex life cycles with variable voltinism, often involving extended diapause in soil-dwelling prepupal stages.