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Classification Order: Hymenoptera Family: Symphyta

Length About 10 mm

Phenology May to August

Identification

The adult sawfly has a black head and abdomen and dark orange thorax

Similars

Life Cycle The larvae are up to 2 cm long and covered in a white powdery substance. They camouflage themselves as bird droppings. The white powdery substance is easily rubbed off and in the final instar, when feeding is finished, the white powder is lost and the larva adopts a pale green appearance. There are two generations each year.

Habitat Around Alder trees

 

By Sandy Rae (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons