Tenthredinidae
Pronunciation: [Ten·thrë·DIN·i·dee]
Common Name: Common Sawflies
Description: The common sawflies are “broad-waisted” wasps whose larvae feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs. Females are equipped with a saw-toothed ovipositor that allows them to cut slits into the bark of twigs where their eggs are laid (hence the name “sawfly”). Adults usually have filiform antennae with 7-10 segments. Larvae resemble lepidopteran caterpillars but have more than five pairs of abdominal prolegs.
Spot ID Key Characters:
- Antennae filiform with 7-10 segments
- Tibia of front leg with two apical spurs
- Broad junction between thorax and abdomen
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Order: Hymenoptera
