Sawfly
Guides
Euura tibialis
Locust Sawfly, False Acacia Sawfly
Euura tibialis is a nematine sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the locust sawfly or false acacia sawfly. The species is associated with false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) as its host plant and has been recorded from Korea, Canada, and parts of Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It is one of numerous Euura species that specialize on particular host plants in the genus Robinia and related legumes.
Euura ventralis
Willow Sawfly
Euura ventralis is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the Willow Sawfly. It is native to North America and has been recorded across multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. As a member of the genus Euura, it is associated with willow (Salix) host plants. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1824.
Fenella
Fenella is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, order Hymenoptera. These insects are part of the suborder Symphyta, which includes sawflies, horntails, and woodwasps—distinguished from other Hymenoptera by the lack of a narrow 'wasp waist' (petiole) between thorax and abdomen. The genus was established by A. Adams in 1864. Fenella species are relatively small, understudied sawflies with limited published ecological data.
Fenusa
Fenusa is a genus of common sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae containing approximately 11 described species. Species in this genus are specialized leaf miners whose larvae feed internally within leaves of host trees. Several species are significant economic pests, including the birch leafminer (F. pusilla), elm leafminer (F. ulmi), and European alder leafminer (F. dohrnii). The genus has been extensively studied in biological control contexts due to the damage caused by larval feeding.
Fenusa dohrnii
European alder leafminer
Fenusa dohrnii is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the European alder leafminer. The species is native to Europe and has been introduced to North America, with records from Canada. As a leafminer, its larvae feed internally within leaf tissue, creating distinctive mines on alder leaves.
Fenusa julia
Fenusa julia is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, described in 2017 by Smith and Eiseman. It belongs to a genus of leaf-mining sawflies whose larvae feed internally on leaf tissue. The species is known from very few observations.
Fenusa pumila
birch leafminer, Birch Leafminer Sawfly
Fenusa pumila is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the birch leafminer. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America where it has become established. The species is a specialist leaf-mining herbivore on birch trees, with larvae feeding internally within leaf tissue. In North America, populations may complete two to four generations annually, with adult emergence triggered by accumulated growing degree-days.
Fenusa ulmi
elm leafminer
Fenusa ulmi is a sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae whose larvae mine leaves of elm trees (Ulmus spp.). Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America where it functions as a pest of ornamental and nursery elms. The species shows strong host specificity, with European elm taxa being most susceptible to damage. Adult emergence and oviposition are tightly synchronized with host leafing phenology, enabling degree-day modeling for monitoring and prediction.
Fenusella
Fenusella is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Feninae. Species in this genus are known as leaf-miners, with larvae feeding internally on poplar leaves (Populus species). The genus occurs in the Palearctic region, with records from Europe, Scandinavia, and extending into Iran.
Fenusella nana
Early Birch Leaf Edgeminer
Fenusella nana is a Palearctic sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae. It occurs throughout the British Isles and has been recorded across continental Europe including Belgium. The species is commonly known as the Early Birch Leaf Edgeminer, indicating its association with birch foliage. As a member of the subfamily Fenusinae, it exhibits the typical sawfly characteristic of a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen, lacking the narrow 'wasp waist' of Apocrita.
Fenusella populifoliella
Fenusella populifoliella is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is associated with Populus (poplar) species as a leaf miner. The species is part of a genus whose larvae create distinctive feeding patterns on host leaves.
Fenusini
Fenusini is a tribe of sawflies within the family Tenthredinidae. Members are leaf-mining insects whose larvae feed internally within plant tissues. The tribe includes economically significant pests such as the birch leafminer (Fenusa pusilla).
Filacus
Filacus is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, established by Smith & Gibson in 1984. As a member of the Hymenoptera order, these insects are characterized by a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen, lacking the constricted 'wasp waist' seen in many related groups. The genus is recognized within the diverse sawfly fauna, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Filacus pluricinctellus
Filacus pluricinctellus is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus Filacus is a small group within this family, and F. pluricinctellus is one of the few described species. It is known from a limited number of observations, primarily in western North America. As with other sawflies, the larvae are likely herbivorous, though specific host plants remain undocumented.
Gilpinia
conifer sawflies
Gilpinia is a genus of conifer sawflies in the family Diprionidae, comprising approximately 20 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. Several species are significant forest pests, notably G. hercyniae (European spruce sawfly) and G. polytoma, which feed on spruce (Picea) species. The genus exhibits complex life history strategies including facultative diapause and variable voltinism (one to three generations annually) depending on geographic location and climate. Species identification relies heavily on morphological examination of the ovipositor, male genitalia, and wing coloration.
Gilpinia frutetorum
Nursery Pine Sawfly
Gilpinia frutetorum is a European conifer sawfly in the Diprionidae family, belonging to the G. socia species group. The species was first described by Fabricius in 1793. Ovipositor morphology has been described and illustrated in recent taxonomic work comparing European and Japanese Gilpinia species.
Halidamia
Halidamia is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, established by Benson in 1939. Species in this genus are known to feed on ferns, particularly bracken (Pteridium aquilinum). The genus has been recorded from northern Europe and North America.
Halidamia affinis
Bedstraw Sawfly
Halidamia affinis is a Palearctic sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the Bedstraw Sawfly. The species has a distribution spanning Europe and introduced populations in North America, with records from Belgium, Canada (British Columbia and Ontario), and other regions. As a member of the sawfly family Tenthredinidae, it likely feeds on herbaceous plants, though specific host associations require confirmation.
Hartigiini
Hartigiini is a tribe of stem sawflies in the family Cephidae. Members are characterized by their elongated, cylindrical bodies and reduced wing venation relative to other sawflies. The tribe contains several genera distributed primarily in the Holarctic region. These insects are associated with woody plants, where larvae develop internally in stems.
Haymatus blassus
Haymatus blassus is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, described by Smith in 1979. As a member of the suborder Symphyta, it lacks the narrow waist characteristic of wasps, bees, and ants in the suborder Apocrita. The genus Haymatus is a small group within the diverse sawfly family Tenthredinidae, which contains over 5,000 described species worldwide.
Hemichroa crocea
striped alder sawfly, banded alder sawfly
Hemichroa crocea is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the striped alder sawfly or banded alder sawfly. The species is likely native to Europe and has been introduced to North America, where it is actively expanding its range. It is notable for having two generations per year and for the gregarious feeding behavior of its larval stage on alder foliage.
Heterarthrinae
Heterarthrinae is a subfamily of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. Its larvae are leaf miners, feeding internally within leaf tissue and creating characteristic mines. The subfamily is distributed primarily across Eurasia and North America, with additional species present in Africa and South America. It contains multiple genera organized into three recognized tribes: Caliroini, Fenusini, and Heterarthrini.
Heterarthrini
Heterarthrini is a tribe of sawflies within the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Tenthredininae. Members are small, slender sawflies known for their leaf-mining larvae, which feed internally within leaf tissue of various host plants. The tribe includes several genera, with Caliroa being the most frequently encountered. Adults are generally inconspicuous and rarely observed compared to their more economically significant larval stages.
Heterarthrus
Heterarthrus is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. Species occur in Eurasia and North America. The genus includes leafmining species that feed on trees in the family Betulaceae. Heterarthrus vagans, a Palaearctic species, has been introduced to southwestern British Columbia, Canada, where it mines leaves of native red alder.
Heterarthrus nemoratus
Late Birch Leaf Edgeminer Sawfly
Heterarthrus nemoratus is a Palearctic sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae. The larvae are specialized leaf-miners that feed on birch leaves (Betula species), creating distinctive mines along leaf edges. Adults are active during late spring and summer. The species has been introduced to North America, where established populations occur in Canada.
Hoplocampa
fruit sawflies, apple sawflies, plum sawflies
Hoplocampa is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, comprising approximately 20 described species distributed primarily across the West Palaearctic. The genus includes several economically significant pests of fruit trees, notably Hoplocampa testudinea (European apple sawfly) and H. flava (plum sawfly). Females oviposit into flowers, and larvae develop within developing fruitlets, causing characteristic damage. Many species reproduce parthenogenetically.
Hoplocampini
Hoplocampini is a tribe of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, suborder Symphyta. Members are small to medium-sized sawflies, many of which are associated with rosaceous plants. The tribe includes economically significant species that feed on fruits such as apples, pears, and cherries. Adults are generally inconspicuous, while larvae often cause damage to developing fruits or foliage.
Lagium
Lagium is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, established by Konow in 1904. Members of this genus are part of the diverse Hymenoptera order, which includes wasps, bees, and ants. The genus is recognized in major taxonomic databases including GBIF, NCBI, and iNaturalist, with 96 observations recorded on iNaturalist. As a genus within Tenthredinidae, Lagium species are expected to share the family's characteristic sawfly morphology, though specific details about individual species remain limited in available sources.
Lagium atroviolaceum
Lagium atroviolaceum is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is a member of the suborder Symphyta, which are characterized by a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen without the narrow 'wasp waist' seen in other Hymenoptera. The species is known from eastern Canada and has been documented through a moderate number of observations. As with other tenthredinid sawflies, adults are likely associated with vegetation while larvae are phytophagous, though specific biological details remain limited.
Leucopelmonus annulicornis
Leucopelmonus annulicornis is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It was described by Harrington in 1893. The species is known from eastern Canada, with records from New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Very little has been published on its biology or ecology.
Liliacina
Liliacina is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, established by Malaise in 1942. Sawflies in this family are herbivorous hymenopterans, often mistaken for wasps due to their similar body plan, but distinguished by a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen. The genus is poorly documented in public sources, with minimal observational records.
Macremphytus
Dogwood Sawflies
Macremphytus is a genus of common sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, comprising at least four described species. The best-known member is Macremphytus tarsatus, commonly called the dogwood sawfly, which is a significant defoliator of dogwood trees in North America. Sawflies in this genus are herbivorous, with larvae feeding on leaves of woody plants. The genus exhibits distinctive larval traits including waxy secretions and overwintering behaviors in wood.
Macrophya
Macrophya is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus contains numerous species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America, with particularly high diversity in China. Several species have been documented as pests of woody plants, including Macrophya satoi, which damages Japanese ash (Fraxinus japonica). The larvae of many species feed on foliage of trees and shrubs. Some species have had their genomes sequenced, including M. alboannulata and M. annulata.
Macrophya cassandra
Macrophya cassandra is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by William Kirby in 1882. The species belongs to the subfamily Tenthredininae and tribe Macrophyini. It is native to eastern Canada, with records from Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. As a member of the genus Macrophya, it shares characteristics with other sawflies in this group, including herbivorous larval feeding habits, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Macrophya fuliginea
Macrophya fuliginea is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is known from eastern Canada, with records from Ontario and Quebec. As a member of the genus Macrophya, it belongs to a group of sawflies characterized by specific morphological features, though detailed species-level biology remains poorly documented in published literature.
Macrophya nigra
Macrophya nigra is a sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae whose larvae are specialized herbivores of turtlehead plants (Chelone spp.). Larval activity peaks in midsummer, with feeding damage capable of reducing host plant reproductive output. The species has been documented in Canada and is known to interact competitively with other herbivores sharing the same host plants.
Macrophya nigristigma
Macrophya nigristigma is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. Like other members of its genus, it is a phytophagous insect whose larvae feed on plant material. The species name refers to the dark or black stigma characteristic of its wing venation. It belongs to a diverse genus of sawflies distributed across the Holarctic region.
Macrophya oregona
Macrophya oregona is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Cresson in 1880. The species is native to western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska, United States. As a member of the genus Macrophya, it belongs to a group of sawflies that are typically associated with woody plants. Very little detailed biological information has been published specifically for this species.
Macrophya pulchella
Macrophya pulchella is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Tenthredininae. The genus Macrophya is a diverse group of sawflies found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. Distribution records indicate this species occurs in eastern Canada, specifically Ontario and Quebec. As with other members of the genus, adults are likely associated with flowering vegetation, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Macrophya varia
Macrophya varia is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Norton in 1860. It belongs to a genus of sawflies commonly known as the "macrophya sawflies," which are primarily associated with feeding on various woody plants. The species has been documented across multiple Canadian provinces, suggesting a northern distribution pattern. Like other members of its family, it undergoes complete metamorphosis with distinct larval and adult stages.
Macroxyela ferruginea
Macroxyela ferruginea is a sawfly in the family Xyelidae, one of the most ancient lineages of Hymenoptera. This species belongs to a genus characterized by relatively large size among xyelid sawflies and association with coniferous hosts. Xyelidae are considered living fossils, retaining morphological traits found in the earliest known fossil Hymenoptera from the Triassic and Jurassic periods.
Megaxyela
Megaxyela is a genus of primitive sawflies in the family Xyelidae, comprising 13 described extant species. The genus has a disjunct distribution spanning the eastern Nearctic and southeastern East Asia, with fossil species known from Colorado and Shandong, China. Members are external feeders on trees in the walnut family (Juglandaceae).
Megaxyela major
Megaxyela major is a species of sawfly in the family Xyelidae, one of the most primitive families of Hymenoptera. The genus Megaxyela contains some of the largest xyelid sawflies. Species in this genus are associated with walnut (Juglans) and hickory (Carya) trees as hosts for their larvae.
Megaxyela tricolor
Megaxyela tricolor is a species of sawfly in the family Xyelidae, the most primitive living family of Hymenoptera. The genus Megaxyela is characterized by its large body size relative to other xyelids. This species is known from Canada, with records from Ontario. Xyelid sawflies are typically associated with coniferous hosts, though specific host records for M. tricolor are not well documented.
Metallus
leaf-mining sawflies
Metallus is a genus of leaf-mining sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. Species are distributed across Europe and North America. The genus is characterized by larvae that create blotch mines on Rubus leaves. Metallus pumilus, the best-documented species, is oligophagous on Rubus species with two generations per year.
Metallus rohweri
Metallus rohweri is a sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by MacGillivray in 1909. It belongs to the subfamily Blennocampinae and is one of approximately five species in the genus Metallus. The genus is characterized by metallic coloration and association with Rubus host plants. This species is known from northeastern North America.
Monoctenus
Monoctenus is a genus of conifer-feeding sawflies in the family Diprionidae, established by Dahlbom in 1835. The genus includes at least two recognized species: M. juniperi and M. obscuratus. These sawflies are associated with juniper hosts and have been recorded from Europe and North America.
Monophadnoides
raspberry sawfly
Monophadnoides is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Blennocampinae, containing approximately eight described species. The genus was established by Ashmead in 1898. One species, Monophadnoides rubi, is known as the raspberry sawfly and is recognized as an agricultural pest. Sawflies in this genus possess the characteristic saw-shaped ovipositor typical of Tenthredinidae, which females use to insert eggs into plant tissue.
Monophadnoides osgoodi
Monophadnoides osgoodi is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, suborder Symphyta. The genus Monophadnoides belongs to the subfamily Blennocampinae. Sawflies in this genus are plant-feeding wasps whose larvae feed on leaves. The species name honors a collector, following the pattern of other species in the genus such as M. conspiculatus and M. rubi.
Monophadnoides pauper
Monophadnoides pauper is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Provancher in 1882. The genus Monophadnoides belongs to the subfamily Blennocampinae within the diverse sawfly family. As with other tenthredinid sawflies, adults lack the narrow waist characteristic of many other hymenopteran groups. The species epithet 'pauper' (Latin for 'poor') likely refers to some perceived morphological deficiency in the original description, though the specific meaning is not documented in available sources. The species has been minimally documented in modern literature, with only one observation recorded on iNaturalist.