Sawfly

Symphyta is a taxonomic group of insects, a Suborder of the Hymenoptera. The Symphyta are commonly referred to as sawflies, and include insects belonging to several families. They are considered to be the most primitive Hymenoptera and are closely related to wasps, bees and ants, those being members of the Suborder Apocrita.

Sawflies are distinguishable from most other Hymenoptera by the broad connection between the abdomen and the thorax. Their name comes from the appearance of the ovipositor, which looks much like the blade of a saw. This ovipositor, which is modified into a stinger in members of the Apocrita, is not used as a weapon. Females use the ovipositor to cut into plants where they lay their eggs. A few species have long thin ovipositors used to drill holes deep into wood.

Adults sawflies, except for those in the Cephidae family, have structures on the underside of the forewings that help hold the wings in place when the insect is at rest. These cenchri, which are absent in member of the suborder Apocrita, are located behind the scutellum on the thorax.

Sawfly larvae are herbivorous, feeding as a group on a wide range of plants. Individual species, however, are quite specific in the plants used for food. The larvae of various species exhibit leaf-mining, leaf rolling or gall formation. Adults are carnivorous, eating other insects, but many also feed on nectar.

Symphyta groups (SUPERFAMILY/Family):

CEPHOIDEA

Cephidae (Stem sawflies - cause damage to wheat, oats and rye crops)

MEGALODONTOIDEA

Megalodontidae

Pamphilidae (Webspinning Sawflies - can cause damage to trees, some cause extensive damage on pines and cherries)

ORUSSOIDEA

Orussidae (beneficial parasites on beetle larvae that feed on tree trunks)

SIRICOIDEA

Siricidae (horntails - mostly feed in dead branches or trunks of trees)

TENTHREDINOIDEA

Argidae (can affect tree crops)

(Basticotomidae)

Cimbicidae (cimbicid sawflies - caterpillars feed on elm, willow, and other hardwoods)

Diprionidae (conifer sawflies - feed on the foliage of various conifers)

Pergidae

Tenthredinidae

XYELOIDEA

Xyelidae

Anaxyelidae

Xiphydridae