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
Jimbobo
wrote:
28 Nov 2025
A Perga species is one of the possibilities. 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 are about 60 species in the subfamily *Perginae* and no definitive and detailed study of early life stages. It is likely that these larvae are from one of two genus, *Perga* and *Pergagrapta*.
Perginae sp. (subfamily)
MichaelMulvaney
wrote:
28 Nov 2025
The larvae are capable of striping the leaves off you callistemon - so you may want to regulate the numbers
Pterygophorus cinctus
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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