Perginae sp. (subfamily)
Unidentified pergine sawfly at Kambah, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Perginae sp. (subfamily) | Jimbobo | 17 Mar 2025 | |
| Pergidae sp. (family) | samreid007 | 21 Apr 2022 | |
| Unverified | HelenCross | 7 Feb 2022 |
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User's notes
Are the white ones new instars?
4 comments
21 Apr 2022
They are! When they molt, they generally do so in the day (i.e. while not foraging) so that they can be supported and protected by the others. Those that are about to molt often signal the group (e.g. tapping, vibrations) beforehand, which can even lead to delayed foraging that night.
21 Apr 2022
Thanks @samreid007 ! So does the tapping have other functions like scaring off predators?
21 Apr 2022
They generally use tapping for communication while foraging. This is because as they get larger, the group needs to split into smaller groups in order to ensure they can fit on to a leaf. Once foraging is finished, they move back towards thicker twigs/branches to rest in a group for the day. To ensure they all find one another, they tap on the branch. If you notice one tapping, look at the others and you're bound to see them respond.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.022878-35.391705
- Altitude 578.0m
- Maps Lions Youth Haven - Westwood Farm A.C.T.
- Places Kambah, ACT
Sighting information
- 16 - 100 Abundance
- 7 Feb 2022 04:39 PM Recorded on
- HelenCross Recorded by
- Eucalypt Associated plant
- 25mm to 50mm Animal size
- Larvae Breeding behaviour
Collections
- HelenCross NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Perginae sp. (subfamily) Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta) Insects
Species information
- Perginae sp. (subfamily) Scientific name
- Unidentified pergine sawfly Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1883m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
6 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species