SURRY COUNTY, N.C. — North Carolina Department of Agriculture said a new invasive species has been found in North Carolina, and it's in the western Piedmont.
North Carolina Forest Service found the elm zigzag sawfly in Stokes and Surry counties near Pilot Mountain.
The critter had previously been found in Canada in 2020 and in Virginia in 2021. It's native to Asia but has spread to numerous countries.
What is the elm zigzag sawfly?
Elm zigzag sawflies are from the wasp family and get their name from the zigzag path they create when they eat leaves. They also have a saw-like appendage used to lay eggs.
NCFS officials say these bugs spread quickly because the females can reproduce without mating and they exclusively eat elm trees.
How do I report an elm zigzag sawfly invasion?
The best way to tackle this issue is to report it, said Steve Troxler, agricultural commissioner.
"Note the location, try to safely photograph the insect and the leaves, and contact your local NCFS county ranger," said Troxler.
If you think a tree has been infected with elm zigzag sawfly, you can contact your county ranger here.
What about other bugs that eat trees?
NC Forestry says typically, defoliation from an insect doesn't do a lot of long-term damage to a tree. A lot of caterpillars eat tree leaves in the spring and fall, and the trees are just fine.
However, NC Forest officials say it's still too early to know if that's the case with the elm zigzag sawfly.
Just like with the invasive spongy moth, repeated defoliation of a tree can cause it to weaken or even die.
