Sawflies

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There are several primitive wasps that have larvae that feed on plant foliage. Some are called slugs and others resemble caterpillars but have more legs on the abdomen.

pear slug larvath.jpg (1720 bytes)   Pear slug larva

Pear slug larvae are dirty yellow color but this is difficult to see because the body is covered with a black slime. They feed by taking off the top layer of chlorophyll and leaving the veins giving the leaves a brown appearance.

sawfly adultth.jpg (1928 bytes)   Sawfly adult

Adult sawflies have the general appearance of these adults.

willow sawfly larvaeth.jpg (2059 bytes)  Willow sawfly larvae

Larvae of the willow sawfly are striking in appearance and easy to spot. They can be quite long when mature. They feed on many kinds of willows. The adults are large black thick bodied non-stinging wasps.

evergreen sawfly larvath.jpg (2016 bytes)  Evergreen sawfly larva

There are several sawfly species whose larvae feed on many different kinds of conifers. They all have the general appearance of the insect pictured here but vary in color. They not only eat needles but also can mine buds or bore into pith of shoots.