Abbot's Sawfly
Neodiprion abbotii
This record describes Neodiprion abbotii (species). Recorded family: Diprionidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Full-grown larvae have a brown to black head with a light spot on the frons and the thorax. Abdomens are pale green with 4 dark green to black lateral stripes.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Diprionidae (Conifer Sawflies)
- Genus
- Neodiprion
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ontario, WS, VA, NC, SC, GA, and FLA
Diet and Behavior
Diet: loblolly, slash, longleaf, shortleaf, red, and Carribean pines.
Life History
Overwinter as a mature larva in a cocoon Eggs are laid in single rows of 15-20 eggs mostly on 2-year-old needles. The eggs of a row almost touch each other. Newly-hatched larvae feed gregariously; older ones feed singly. Mature larvae spin cocoons on the needles of the tree. Three generations per year in the south: 1st generation is found in May, 2nd in July and August; 3rd in Oct to Dec.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Neodiprion abbotii (Leach 1817)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Neodiprion abbotii. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Abbot's Sawfly (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by v belov , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Abbot's Sawfly
What is Abbot's Sawfly?
Abbot's Sawfly (Neodiprion abbotii) is a species in the family Diprionidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Abbot's Sawfly?
Full-grown larvae have a brown to black head with a light spot on the frons and the thorax. Abdomens are pale green with 4 dark green to black lateral stripes.
Where is Abbot's Sawfly found?
Range: Ontario, WS, VA, NC, SC, GA, and FLA
What does Abbot's Sawfly eat?
The diet of the Abbot's Sawfly includes loblolly, slash, longleaf, shortleaf, red, and Carribean pines..
What is the life cycle of a Abbot's Sawfly?
Overwinter as a mature larva in a cocoon Eggs are laid in single rows of 15-20 eggs mostly on 2-year-old needles. The eggs of a row almost touch each other. Newly-hatched larvae feed gregariously; older ones feed singly. Mature larvae spin cocoons on the needles of the tree. Three generations per year in the south: 1st generation is found in May, 2nd in July and August; 3rd in Oct to Dec.