Cocoon distribution ofPikonema alaskensis(Rohwer) was studied in 10- to 12-yr-old white spruce plantations in Minnesota. Adjacent soil cores were taken radially from the trunk, extending 88 cm beyond the crown. Adult emergence traps were placed under, at the edge, and outside of the crowns.There were twice as many sawflies outside of the crown area with males predominating. The north and west sides had more sawflies.Fully developed larvae released in flats with one half of the area shaded did not show a cocooning preference for either the sunny or shaded side. Observations relate cocooning preferences to grass and moisture. Therefore, we feel that the preference for cocooning outside of the crown-covered ground is a grass and moisture related, rather than a sun-related, preference.