When did the European Sawfly get Introduced to Washington State?

The European Sawfly, also known as Neodiprion sertifer, was first seen in Washington in 2008. It is believed to have migrated from British Columbia. One of the first sightings was in a condominium development in Bellingham.

The Sawfly is dangerous to Washington State because it has no natural predators. The sawfly larvae especially like to feed on the Eastern White Pine, but have been known to also partake of the Scotch, Mugo, Ponderosa, Austrian, Red, Jack, and also the Swiss Mountain Pine trees. While the larvae won't kill the trees, they are known to cause significant damage by slowing the growth substantially.

What can you do?

If you notice the Sawfly on your trees, you have a few different options. First, If there are only a small amount you can remove them by hand where possible. Second, if the infestation is moderate or severe you may consider using an insectide to erradicate the larvae. Remember that you won't need to treat the whole tree, just the infested areas. If you have questions about how best to handle the European Sawfly, don't hesitate to give A Total Tree Service a call to get an arborists opinion and estimate.