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Sawfly
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Sawfly

Order: Hymenoptera

Family: Tenthredinidae

Pest Status: Sawfly larvae can become very destructive as they consume leaves or needles of trees and bushes.

Appearance: Sawfly larvae are often confused with caterpillars, but sawfly adults are very wasp-like. They are distinguishable from other wasps by the broad connection between the abdomen and the thorax. Their common name comes from the appearance of the ovipositor, which looks much like the blade of a saw.

Life Cycle: Sawflies overwinter as eggs. The larvae begin feeding in late spring and continue through the summer. After feeding, the larvae pupate in the soil or on trees and adults begin appearing in the fall. There is one generation per year.

Where to Collect: Most sawflies are host-specific, so they can be found near their individual hosts, (pines, evergreens, and some deciduous trees).