Imported Pine Sawfly - Diprion similis

The adult sawfly is 7 to 10 mm long. The late instar larvae are very distinctively patterned with yellow and white rounded spots mingling with black, and a double black dorsal line extending the length of the body.

Adult, Larva

The larvae live and feed in pine trees and the adults are therefore most likely to be encountered in areas where pine is present.

Larvae from May to September.

Associated with Pine. The females of D. similis are poor fliers but the larvae are possibly introduced to some areas when pine is planted. The larvae feed from May to September/October on mature needles of pines. The young larvae are gregarious, and feed in small colonies, and the older larvae disperse and are solitary. Fully grown larvae are 18 to 28 mm long.

Uncommon or rarely recorded with most records coming from the southern counties of England.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. The larva recorded at Fosse Meadows, Sharnford on 15th August 2014 is believed to be the first record of this species in VC55.