Thank you for your answer Moni. This is the first time I have seen them and I will keep my eyes peeled. So far they are only on one little spot on this tree only. I do live in a heavily wooded area so they should be able to find some other place to hatch and feed, I hope.
Thanks again, Sue
Argid sawfly larva by: Moni
Sue
This is a larva of a sawfly that feeds on oak, but may also feed on other trees. These are insects that look like wasps and are in the same order as bees and wasps. They do eat the foliage, therefore they do some damage to the tree.
If you only see a few this year and do not get them every year then they will not kill the tree. Trees can take some defoliation, but not total lost of foliage every year. I would leave them alone for now...let the natural predators build up. Then in future years if you keep seeing them you could spray with the organic Spinosad if you can keep it from hitting beneficial insects like your butterflies and bees.
Argid sawfly larva by: Anonymous
Sue
This is a larva of a sawfly that feeds on oak, but may also feed on other trees. These are insects that look like wasps and are in the same order as bees and wasps. They do eat the foliage, therefore they do some damage to the tree.
If you only see a few this year and do not get them every year then they will not kill the tree. Trees can take some defoliation, but not total lost of foliage every year. I would leave them alone for now...let the natural predators build up. Then in future years if you keep seeing them you could spray with the organic Spinosad if you can keep it from hitting beneficial insects like your butterflies and bees.
