What's this pest on Scotts Pine?

[The Warm Canuck]

The look like little caterpillars with black heads.

What are they and how do I kill em. Neem oil?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looks like sawfly larvae. Act quick and get rid of them, starting with tweezers now and then whatever chemicals you can find that kills them.

 

[Paradox]

Agree with Brian.
Don't waste time with these.
Get rid of them

 

[penumbra]

They can completely defoliate all the healthy growth in 2 or 3 days. But they are fairly easy to kill with many insecticides. Don't bother with a systemic. Use a contact poison. Last time they reared their ugly heads here I sprinkled powdered Sevin on them. They were dead in a couple hours and stopped feeding right away. Be grateful you spotted them. They once nearly killed a 30 year old Scots pine of mine.

 

[cmu268]

Discovered these on a Mugo pine today. Didn’t about them before today, but they’re creepy looking things.

 

[Paradox]

Kill them with impunity

 

[sorce]

Plant allysum to attract the flys and wasps that prey on them.......for the future.

Allium family too, green onions from the store should flower this year. Plant em, stress em.

Sorce

 

[CapeCodBonsai]

I’ve had those damn things decimating my pines the last few years!

Last year, in true Nick Lenz fashion, I blasted them with a can of RAID that I had on hand. Killed ‘em instantly!

 

[Betula1]

Alternatively just pick them of and squish them !