Where do sawfly larvae live?

As they approach adulthood, the larvae seek a protected spot to pupate, typically in bark or the soil. Large populations of species such as the pine sawfly can cause substantial damage to economic forestry, while others such as the iris sawfly are major pests in horticulture.

Where do you find sawflies?

Sawflies (Caliroa cerasi), also known as cherry or pear slugs, are widely distributed throughout the United States and Canada. They are a common pest of mountain ash, hawthorn, cotoneaster, cherry, plum and pear trees, and are occasionally found on quince and shadbush. High populations can defoliate entire trees.

Are sawflies native to Australia?

Sawfly Larvae There are about 200 known species of Sawfly in Australia. The larvae of some Sawfly species are green, some black, others brown or off-white, and some are striped, and some are spotted.

Where do sawfly larvae come from?

Sawflies got their name from their ovipositor – the egg-laying apparatus at the end of the female’s abdomen. When the female is ready to lay eggs she uses the ovipositor to saw a slit in a leaf, needle or stem. Eggs are then deposited into the slit.

Where are sawflies found in the United States?

Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. Sawflies are common in the landscape, feeding on many trees and shrubs. Sawfly larvae resembles butterfly and moth caterpillars so accurate identification is important.

What kind of lifestyle does a sawfly have?

The oldest superfamily, the Xyeloidea, has existed into the present. Over 200 million years ago, a lineage of sawflies evolved a parasitoid lifestyle, with carnivorous larvae that ate the eggs or larvae of other insects. Sawflies are distributed globally, though they are more diverse in the northern hemisphere.

What kind of pest control can I use on sawflies?

Keep in mind that pest control products labeled for caterpillars, such as Bt, will not work on sawfly larvae. Many sawflies are specialist feeders. The Willow sawfly, for example, defoliates willows, while several kinds of pine sawflies focus their feeding on pines.

Where can I find sawfly caterpillars in my garden?

The caterpillars can also be found on Red and White Current bushes. When in numbers the larvae strip the bushes of leaves leaving just the stems. The Skullcap sawfly caterpillar, Athalia scutellarinaea, is an uncommon species that feeds on species of Skull Cap. More information to be added shortly.