EEK-THESE LOOK HORRIBLE, BUT THEY ARE SAWFLIES. NOT HORRIBLE!
I was busy working in my vegetable and herb gardens when I noticed a Scotch Pine was brown at the top. When I went to look I was horrified to find it covered in caterpillars that blended in with the needles. Hundreds of them, all wiggling and eating. I had never seen them before, and it was getting dark. I was afraid were going to take over the world, or at least my garden and all of my neighbor’s gardens, so I sprayed them with Spinosad and emailed Dr. Matt Frye, and entomologist affiliated with Cornell University.
He told me they are sawflies. They can destroy an evergreen, but they are not usually a problem. They grow into non-stinging wasps that birds love to eat. He also sent me this link to a Cornell video. If it is not a heavy infestation they can be picked off or left alone. Like so many things, they were not at all horrifying once I knew what they were. Thank you Dr. Frye!!! I will sleep better tonight 🙂
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