The Webspinning Sawfly of Plums and Sandcherries

Because the plum webspinning sawfly* is the most destructive enemy of the foliage of plum trees and sandcherry bushes and because these are among the most important of the fruit producing plants in South Dakota, a study of this pest was undertaken. As a result of this study, the distribution of the insect has been fairly well determined and its life history and the behavior of the various stages in its life cycle are now known. The plants upon which the larvae feed and the injury done by them was also investigated. The most important of the natural enemies of this pest and their influence as checks upon the increase of the Neurotoma larvae were stained and finally, satisfactory control measures for the pest were worked out. An abbreviated account of the work done with this sawfly is given in the following pages while a detailed report will be found in Technical Bulletin Number 1 of the Office of the State Entomologist of South Dakota