spruce sawfly

insect

Also known as: Gilpinia

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Spruce sawflies are insects belonging to the family Diprionidae, whose larvae feed on spruce trees. This group includes several species that can be serious pests of coniferous trees.12

Two notable examples are:
* European spruce sawfly (Diprion hercyniae): Native to Europe, it has been introduced to Canada and the northern U.S. and can severely defoliate spruce trees.3
* Yellow-headed spruce sawfly (Pikonema alaskensis): This North American species is known for defoliating spruce in eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S..4

Sawflies, in general, are considered the most primitive insects within the order Hymenoptera. Their larvae are caterpillar-like but can be distinguished from other caterpillars by the presence of fleshy prolegs on most body segments following the first three.2

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insect
Ecological factors
…the early 1940s the European spruce sawfly (Gilpinia hercyniae), which had caused immense damage, was completely controlled by the spontaneous appearance of a viral disease, perhaps unknowingly introduced from Europe. This event led to increased interest in using insect diseases as potential means of managing pest populations.
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…the early 1940s the European spruce sawfly (Gilpinia hercyniae), which had caused immense damage, was completely controlled by the spontaneous appearance of a viral disease, perhaps unknowingly introduced from Europe. This event led to increased interest in using insect diseases as potential means of managing pest populations.
Read More