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
MichaelMulvaney
wrote:
26 Feb 2026
In the words of Paul Whitngton's sawfly guide within his Southern Forests website. "P. affinis and P. dorsalis can only
be reliably separated from then pattern and morphology of the hairs of the ovipositor valves. In P. affinis these hairs are very dense and fine with the tips of hairs not spooned, whereas in P. dorsalis there is a considerable distance between the hairs and the tips of hairs are spooned "
be reliably separated from then pattern and morphology of the hairs of the ovipositor valves. In P. affinis these hairs are very dense and fine with the tips of hairs not spooned, whereas in P. dorsalis there is a considerable distance between the hairs and the tips of hairs are spooned "
Perga sp. (genus)
Significant sightings
- 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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