Unfortunately, this one is another bug.

Pine Sawfly Larval Case
Photo by Jim Johnson

The pine sawfly is normally kept under control by natural predators so I rarely see them. This, however, was my second sighting in the last 4 months so I guess environmental conditions have not be optimal for predator survival.

Keep a lookout for these insects. The larvae are voracious eaters that completely devour the needles and can totally defoliate pine trees. The first site I visited had a block of about 25 trees more than 20 feet tall that were without needles.

If treatment is necessary, first generation control will need to occur from mid-May to mid-June. The second generation is active in the July to August time period. Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County put together a good review of pine sawflies. It can be found at:
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/Horticulture-Leaflets/Pine-Sawflies.pdf