Perginae sp. (subfamily)
Unidentified pergine sawfly at Forde, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Perginae sp. (subfamily) | Jimbobo | 19 Jul 2025 | |
| Pergidae sp. (family) | MichaelMulvaney | 13 Jul 2025 | |
| Unverified | chriselidie | 13 Jul 2025 |
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User's notes
These larvae were found crossing a footpath, moving as one. They look like larvae of eucalyptus beetles that I have seen previously, but much larger and black. When feeling observed/threatened, they flicked their 'tails' in unison.
2 comments
19 Jul 2025
These are late stage larvae from one of the Myrtaceae feeding genera. Likely genus Perga or Pergagrapta. Unfortunately we can't take these to species and in most cases even to genus level, without rearing through to adults. In lieu of a comprehensive study or guide to the larvae of the nearly 60 species in subfamily Perginae; subfamily level identification is the only valid option.
20 Jul 2025
Thanks for helping identify these, I thought they were beetle larvae all this time! I saw these a few years ago - they looked quite striking. In hindsight I regret that I didn't collect any to try and find out how the adults look, that would have been really interesting.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.141142-35.167220
- Places Forde, ACT
Sighting information
- 16 - 100 Abundance
- 11 Oct 2022 01:00 PM Recorded on
- chriselidie Recorded by
- None Associated plant
- 50mm or larger Animal size
Collections
- chriselidie 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
5 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Description
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location