OH noticed today that there were literally hundreds of caterpillars on my pine tree. This tree had been struggling but after two years of feed and mulching it seemed to be growing well again. However these little critters have practically decimated all the new growth. I shook the tree and they fell to the ground only to all start crawling up again >:(.
The caterpillars are a creamy yellow in colour, no hairs or distinguishing marks, and about an inch long. Itried googling but it refers mainly to scots pine caterpillars which mine don't appear to be.
Any advice gratefully received.
Pine sawfly?
http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/Trees/EuroPsawf.html
Thank you Robert. I am sure you are right. I have just been out to take some pictures, but I am afraid I do not know how to post them on here!
Make a £10 donation to the site and Dan will enable them for you. alternatively you can link them from a free site but I've never got the hang of that.
I ahve contributed the £10, but I can't get the hang of the free sites either. I will ask Dan for some help.
(http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5753/sawfly0019az.th.jpg) (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sawfly0019az.jpg)
At last I have managed it!