Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta)
Sawflies are wasp-like insects that are in the suborder Symphyta within the order Hymenoptera, alongside ants, bees, and wasps. The common name comes from the saw-like appearance of the ovipositor, which the females use to cut into the plants where they lay their eggs.
The primary distinction between sawflies and the Apocrita (ants, bees, and wasps) is that the adults lack a "wasp waist", and instead have a broad connection between the abdomen and the thorax.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawfly
- Identification tools for Australian sawflies - Life in a Southern Forest
- Schmidt, S. & Smith, D.R. 2021. Pergidae of the World – an online catalogue of the sawfly family Pergidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Symphyta). Electronic publication
- Pergidae taxa on iNaturalist
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Discussion
AlisonMilton
wrote:
5 Oct 2025
@KaiDewPHD Hi, This is a sawfly larvae not a butterfly.
Pergidae sp. (family)
MichaelMulvaney
wrote:
25 Sep 2025
I just think that there are colour variations amongst individuals of same age and species
Perginae sp. (subfamily)
Significant sightings
- Pergagrapta latreillii at Goulburn, NSW
- Pseudoperga guerinii at Booth, ACT
- Xyloperga lalage at Mount Ainslie
- Cerealces scutellata at Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
- Pergagrapta gravenhorstii at Molonglo Valley, ACT
- Zenarge turneri at Murrumbateman, NSW
- Lophyrotoma analis at Wodonga, VIC
- Perga vollenhovii at Hawker, ACT
- Perga kirbii at Acton, ACT
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