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elm zigzag sawfly larva

Closeup of a elm zigzag sawfly larva, light green and slightly translucent in color, feeding on a green leaf. The larva has eaten a gap into the leaf from the edge that is roughly the shape of the larva but wider. The leaf and sawfly are photographed against a white background.

The elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) is now established in several places in North America. This non-native forest pest can be a threat to elm species and hybrids and is capable of large defoliation events. Will it turn into a full-blown invasive species, or simply co-exist with native herbivores in natural and urban forests? At this point, we don’t know. A new review highlights elm zigzag sawfly biology, ecology, and management strategies in the U.S. (Image by Matthew Bertone, Ph.D., originally published in Oten et al 2023, Journal of Integrated Pest Management)

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