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Tom Murray | profile | all galleries >> Arthropods - Arthropoda >> Insects - Insecta >> Wasps >> Sawflies Horntails & Wood Wasps - Symphyta >> Sawfly Larvae tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Sawfly Larvae

The best way to tell sawfly larvae from moths and butterfly caterpillars, is sawflies have more legs and their heads usually look a little different.
Abia sp.
Abia sp.		 Abia sp.
Abia sp.		 Pamphiliidae - Acantholyda sp.
Pamphiliidae - Acantholyda sp.		 Pamphiliidae - Acantholyda sp.
Pamphiliidae - Acantholyda sp.		 Pamphiliidae - Acantholyda sp.
Pamphiliidae - Acantholyda sp.		 Pamphiliidae - Acantholyda sp.
Pamphiliidae - Acantholyda sp.
Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea		 Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea		 Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea		 Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea		 Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea		 Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea		 Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea		 Arge coccinea
Arge coccinea		 Poison Ivy Sawfly - Arge humeralis
Poison Ivy Sawfly - Arge humeralis		 Poison Ivy Sawfly - Arge humeralis
Poison Ivy Sawfly - Arge humeralis		 Poison Ivy Sawfly - Arge humeralis
Poison Ivy Sawfly - Arge humeralis
Birch Sawfly - Arge pectoralis
Birch Sawfly - Arge pectoralis		 Birch Sawfly - Arge pectoralis
Birch Sawfly - Arge pectoralis		 Birch Sawfly - Arge pectoralis
Birch Sawfly - Arge pectoralis		 Birch Sawfly - Arge pectoralis
Birch Sawfly - Arge pectoralis		 Willow Oak Sawfly - Arge quidia
Willow Oak Sawfly - Arge quidia		 Willow Oak Sawfly - Arge quidia
Willow Oak Sawfly - Arge quidia
Elm Argid Sawfly - Arge scapularis
Elm Argid Sawfly - Arge scapularis		 Elm Argid Sawfly - Arge scapularis
Elm Argid Sawfly - Arge scapularis		 Arge clavicornis group
Arge clavicornis group		 Arge sp.
Arge sp.		 Arge sp.
Arge sp.		 Arge sp.
Arge sp.
Arge sp.
Arge sp.		 Arge sp.
Arge sp.		 Arge sp.
Arge sp.		 Hibiscus Sawfly (larva) - Atomacera decepta
Hibiscus Sawfly (larva) - Atomacera decepta		 Elm Sawfly larva - Cimbex americana
Elm Sawfly larva - Cimbex americana		 Heterarthrinae - Caliroa sp.
Heterarthrinae - Caliroa sp.
Caliroa sp.
Caliroa sp.		 Caliroa sp.
Caliroa sp.		 Nematinae - Craesus castaneae
Nematinae - Craesus castaneae		 Nematinae - Craesus castaneae
Nematinae - Craesus castaneae		 Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus
Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus		 Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus
Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus
Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus
Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus		 Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus
Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus		 Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus
Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus		 Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus
Dusky Birch Sawfly - Craesus latitarsus		 Dimorphopteryx melanognathus
Dimorphopteryx melanognathus		 Dimorphopteryx melanognathus
Dimorphopteryx melanognathus
Dimorphopteryx virginicus
Dimorphopteryx virginicus		 Dimorphopteryx sp.
Dimorphopteryx sp.		 Dimorphopteryx sp.
Dimorphopteryx sp.		 Dimorphopteryx sp.
Dimorphopteryx sp.		 Dimorphopteryx sp.
Dimorphopteryx sp.		 Dimorphopteryx sp.
Dimorphopteryx sp.
Dimorphopteryx sp.
Dimorphopteryx sp.		 Introduced Pine Sawfly larva - Diprion similis
Introduced Pine Sawfly larva - Diprion similis		 Introduced Pine Sawfly larva - Diprion similis
Introduced Pine Sawfly larva - Diprion similis		 Introduced Pine Sawfly - Diprion similis
Introduced Pine Sawfly - Diprion similis		 Introduced Pine Sawfly - Diprion similis (prepupal)
Introduced Pine Sawfly - Diprion similis (prepupal)		 Dolerus sp.
Dolerus sp.
Butternut Woolly Worm - Eriocampa juglandis
Butternut Woolly Worm - Eriocampa juglandis		 Butternut Woolly Worm - Eriocampa juglandis
Butternut Woolly Worm - Eriocampa juglandis		 Alder Sawfly - Eriocampa ovata
Alder Sawfly - Eriocampa ovata		 Eupareophora parca
Eupareophora parca		 Eupareophora parca
Eupareophora parca		 Euura limbatus?
Euura limbatus?
Euura limbatus?
Euura limbatus?		 Euura salicisodoratus
Euura salicisodoratus		 European Spruce Sawfly - Gilpinia hercyniae
European Spruce Sawfly - Gilpinia hercyniae		 European Spruce Sawfly - Gilpinia hercyniae
European Spruce Sawfly - Gilpinia hercyniae		 Striped Alder Sawfly - Hemichroa crocea
Striped Alder Sawfly - Hemichroa crocea		 Lagium atroviolaceum
Lagium atroviolaceum
Macremphytus tarsatus
Macremphytus tarsatus		 Macremphytus tarsatus
Macremphytus tarsatus		 Macremphytus tarsatus
Macremphytus tarsatus		 Macremphytus tarsatus
Macremphytus tarsatus		 Macremphytus tarsatus
Macremphytus tarsatus		 Macremphytus testaceus
Macremphytus testaceus
Macremphytus testaceus
Macremphytus testaceus		 Macremphytus testaceus
Macremphytus testaceus		 Macremphytus testaceus
Macremphytus testaceus		 Macremphytus sp.
Macremphytus sp.		 Macrophya sp.
Macrophya sp.		 Macrophya sp.
Macrophya sp.
Monoctenus sp.
Monoctenus sp.		 Monoctenus sp.
Monoctenus sp.		 Monsoma pulveratum/inferentium
Monsoma pulveratum/inferentium		 Nematus calais
Nematus calais		 Nematus cf-erythrogaster
Nematus cf-erythrogaster		 Nematus cf-erythrogaster
Nematus cf-erythrogaster
Nematus ventralis
Nematus ventralis		 Nematus ventralis
Nematus ventralis		 Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.		 Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.		 Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.		 Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.		 Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.		 Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.		 Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.		 Nematus sp.
Nematus sp.		 Abbot's Sawfly - Neodiprion abbotii
Abbot's Sawfly - Neodiprion abbotii
Red-headed Pine Sawfly - Neodiprion lecontei
Red-headed Pine Sawfly - Neodiprion lecontei		 Red-headed Pine Sawfly - Neodiprion lecontei
Red-headed Pine Sawfly - Neodiprion lecontei		 White Pine Sawfly - Neodiprion pinetum
White Pine Sawfly - Neodiprion pinetum		 European Pine Sawfly - Neodiprion sertifer
European Pine Sawfly - Neodiprion sertifer		 Cherry Webspinning Sawfly - Neurotoma fasciata
Cherry Webspinning Sawfly - Neurotoma fasciata		 Cherry Webspinning Sawfly - Neurotoma fasciata
Cherry Webspinning Sawfly - Neurotoma fasciata
Pamphilius sp.
Pamphilius sp.		 Periclista sp.
Periclista sp.		 Periclista sp.
Periclista sp.		 Blennocampinae - Periclista sp.
Blennocampinae - Periclista sp.		 Periclista sp.
Periclista sp.		 Pontania sp.
Pontania sp.
Pontania sp.
Pontania sp.		 Pontania sp. (galls)
Pontania sp. (galls)		 Nematinae - Priophorus brullei
Nematinae - Priophorus brullei		 Selandrinae - Strongylogaster sp.
Selandrinae - Strongylogaster sp.		 Strongylogastrini - Strongylogaster sp.
Strongylogastrini - Strongylogaster sp.		 Strongylogastrini - Strongylogaster sp.
Strongylogastrini - Strongylogaster sp.
Strongylogastrini - Strongylogaster sp.
Strongylogastrini - Strongylogaster sp.		 Symphyta sp.
Symphyta sp.		 Periclista sp.
Periclista sp.		 Taxonus sp.
Taxonus sp.		 Taxonus sp.
Taxonus sp.		 Taxonus sp.
Taxonus sp.
Tenthredo sp.
Tenthredo sp.		 Tenthredo sp.
Tenthredo sp.		 Tenthredo sp.
Tenthredo sp.		 Nematinae - Trichiocampus viminalis
Nematinae - Trichiocampus viminalis		 Trichiosoma triangulum
Trichiosoma triangulum		 Trichiosoma triangulum
Trichiosoma triangulum
Trichiosoma triangulum
Trichiosoma triangulum		 Trichiosoma triangulum
Trichiosoma triangulum		 Cimbicid Sawfly - Zaraea sp.
Cimbicid Sawfly - Zaraea sp.		 Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae		 Nematini possibly Pristiphora sp.
Nematini possibly Pristiphora sp.		 Selandrinae
Selandrinae
Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae		 Tenthredinidae
Tenthredinidae		 Sawfly Larva
Sawfly Larva		 IMG_5517.JPG
IMG_5517.JPG		 Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae		 Tenthredinidae
Tenthredinidae
Tenthredinidae possibly Allantinae
Tenthredinidae possibly Allantinae		 Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae		 Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae		 Nematinae
Nematinae		 Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae 		Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae
IMG_1677.JPG
IMG_1677.JPG		 IMG_3554.JPG
IMG_3554.JPG		 IMG_3555.JPG
IMG_3555.JPG		 IMG_3703.JPG
IMG_3703.JPG		 IMG_3750.JPG
IMG_3750.JPG		 IMG_3762.JPG
IMG_3762.JPG
IMG_3861.JPG
IMG_3861.JPG		 Tenthredinidae possibly Nematinae
Tenthredinidae possibly Nematinae		 Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae		 IMG_2603.JPG
IMG_2603.JPG		 Nematinae - Cladiini
Nematinae - Cladiini		 Tenthredinidae
Tenthredinidae
Selandriinae
Selandriinae		 Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae		 Nematini
Nematini		 Nematini
Nematini		 Tenthredininae
Tenthredininae		 Tenthredinidae
Tenthredinidae

comment | share
Bob B.18-Aug-2019 13:22
(Abitgher) Great gallery Tom! V
Robert 24-Jan-2016 17:19
after cutting down a tree infected with sawfly's. I've planted another tree in the same location. Is it possible the new tree may get infected also?
Gail Hampshire 05-Jul-2015 06:46
An excellent body of work, very helpful, thankyou
Guest 13-Sep-2014 13:40
Thank you. This gallery was so helpful! I thought we had caterpillars, but we have sawfly larva :)
Sandy 13-Sep-2013 13:25
Great gallery, Tom Murray! Thanks so much for all this work and for sharing it with the rest of us.
mary leuther 01-Sep-2013 03:07
thank you for this!
larose forest photos02-Jul-2011 02:52
A very well presented and very useful gallery. Thank you for this. V
Bruce Saxton 24-Mar-2011 05:40
I have a picture of a probable Sawflie extracted from the contents of a fishes intestine in native scrubland in Koziousco area. I am hopeing to more accuratly identify it and find out a little about it.
Mike 12-Feb-2011 08:55
I encountered these recently. Do you think they're sawfly larvae?
mikepickard.posterous.com/caterpillars

Please reply by comenting on the post so that I see your response. Thankyou. :)
Guest 06-Feb-2011 12:31
Many of these do tend to look like the caterpillars of moths and butterflies. They are far more aggressive when meddled with than most lepidoterans though.
I also note that many have rather large eyes for a larva. The Australian "Spitfire" sawfly larvae look more like beetle larvae...no prolegs, a whitish, yellow body and orange head. I always thought that when disturbed, these larvae would rear up their heads and vomit up a ball of liquid stomach contents. But in some of your photos, I see that they also elevate their rear ends and excrete fecal matter too.
Guest 22-Apr-2010 13:31
I may have misspoke, the sawfly larvae on my mugos was probably the black headed pine sawfly. Still, any help to revive my Mugos would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Guest 22-Apr-2010 13:28
I was recently given two huge Mugo pines that I transplanted in my yard. About a week after, both were infested with what appears to have been the pamphillidae-ancantholyda sp. I think I've been able to control them, but in a matter of two days they had stripped numerous branches of all their needles. If anyone can offer help to restore my Mugos' health, please email me at michaeldernst@msn.com Thanks.
Guest 29-Jun-2009 00:39
Hi all, these photos are fantastic. I am about to start a PhD researching sawflies and the reasons behind the unusal larval grouping behaviour. The first step on my path is to find the darlings, the more different species the merrier. I would really appreciate if anyone who knows where they are or recently have been, would get in contact with me (wingedocelot@hotmail.com). Particularly somewhere close to melbourne would be wonderful. Thank you all for your time! Lisa.
Guest 25-May-2009 02:51
In our yard, we have mugo pines, and the sawfly larvae are a consistent problem from year to year, eating away at the needles. We have tried spraying, and picking manually, but recently tried a vacuum cleaner, a shop-vac, with the creavace tool, and it sucked them all off from the branches with no problem! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as opposed to plucking them off manually.
Guest 08-May-2009 20:16
nicely presented gallery.
aporn 22-Aug-2008 15:02
Aug 08
The dogwood sawfly did a job on my dogwood and my friends'! First time ever that I saw the bug. From Champaign, Illinois.

Itinerant gardener
Guest 16-Aug-2008 22:28
I live in Ontario. They destroy my loosestrife as well.
George 03-Sep-2007 19:50
I live in Maryland and am very curious to know what is the genus and species of image 6634? Each year they ravage our yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia ephemerum). Can you tell me anything about their natural history, especially how they over-winter? Thank you.
Peter Hollinger14-Aug-2006 13:26
Weird critters. They look so much like lepidopterans.
click on thumbnails for full image