Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta)

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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

Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta)

Featured sightings

Perginae sp. (subfamily) (Unidentified pergine sawfly) at Smiggin Holes, NSW - 21 Jan 2025 by Harrisi

Lophyrotoma sp. (genus) (Sawfly) at Flynn, ACT - 19 Feb 2024 by Christine

Pterygophorus cinctus (Bottlebrush sawfly) at Macgregor, ACT - 29 Nov 2023 by Roger

Pseudoperga belinda at Theodore, ACT - 4 Jan 2021 by owenh

Perga dorsalis (Steel-blue sawfly, spitfire) at Acton, ACT - 30 May 2019 by TimL

Pterygophorus cinctus (Bottlebrush sawfly) at Macquarie, ACT - 29 Dec 2016 by Heino1

Pseudoperga guerinii (A sawfly) at Cotter River, ACT - 12 Feb 2018 by HarveyPerkins

Latest sightings

Perginae sp. (subfamily) (Unidentified pergine sawfly) at Ainslie, ACT - 17 Apr 2025 by jb2602

Pterygophorinae (subfamily) at Aranda, ACT - 17 Apr 2025 by KMcCue

Perginae sp. (subfamily) (Unidentified pergine sawfly) at Holder, ACT - 13 Apr 2025 by Miranda

Pterygophorinae (subfamily) (Sawfly) at Windellama, NSW - 7 Apr 2025 by RobG1

Phylacteophaga froggatti (Leafblister sawfly) at City, ACT - 10 Apr 2025 by Hejor1

Pseudoperga sp. (genus) at Acton, ACT - 10 Apr 2025 by Hejor1

Perga dorsalis (Steel-blue sawfly, spitfire) at Aranda, ACT - 27 Feb 2024 by NateKingsford

Pterygophorinae (subfamily) (Sawfly) at Manar, NSW - 26 Mar 2025 by RobG1

Perginae sp. (subfamily) at Bimberi, NSW - 14 Mar 2025 by RAllen

Pterygophorus cinctus (Bottlebrush sawfly) at Mawson, ACT - 3 Apr 2025 by Mike

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Discussion

Jimbobo wrote:

23 Apr 2025

Solid black antenna and dark on dorsal tergums.

Pseudoperga guerinii

Jimbobo wrote:

19 Apr 2025

Early instars.

Perginae sp. (subfamily)

Jimbobo wrote:

7 Apr 2025

Female guarding her clutch of larvae. What was the host plant species?

Pseudoperga guerinii

Jimbobo wrote:

7 Apr 2025

A late stage larvae of Pseudoperga species is one of the possibles. But may also be Pergagrapta larvae. Unfortunately we can't usually identify the larvae to species level and in most cases even to a genus, without rearing through to adults. More research is needed in this area. There is about 60 species in subfamily Perginae and no definitive and detailed study of early life stages.

Perginae sp. (subfamily)

Jimbobo wrote:

7 Apr 2025

A Perga species is one of the possibles. Unfortunately we can't usually identify the larvae to species level and in most cases even to a genus, without rearing through to adults. More research is needed in this area. There is about 60 species in subfamily Perginae and no definitive and detailed study of early life stages.

Perga sp. (genus)