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Bottlebrush sawfly larvae Seen feeding on Callistemon citrinus. This grouping was on both sides of the leaf, you can just see the others poking up behind. I found it interesting that the two sets on either side had remained in sync, reducing the leaf at equal speeds. <br /> <br /> Body length 10 mm<br /> <br /> Image of adult:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/147649/syrphid_sawfly_ascension.html" title="Syrphid sawfly ascension"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3314/147649_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1763596810&Signature=xG88MvQyGcpcqd8keTpvNhRL6Dg%3D" width="200" height="180" alt="Syrphid sawfly ascension I happened to catch this little sawfly just before it took off. <br /> <br /> This is specifically the bottlebrush sawfly, Pterygophorus cinctus.<br /> <br /> Despite the common name, sawflies are not flies. They sit within order Hymenoptera, but within a separate suborder to wasps/ants/bees, namely Symphyta.<br /> <br /> Sawflies do not possess the distinctive thin waist of the other hymenopterans, nor do they possess a sting. The common name comes from the female&#039;s saw-like egg-laying tube, which she uses to make a slit in a plant leaf or stem, into which she lays her eggs. <br /> <br /> Our Australian sawfly larvae feed mainly on native trees and shrubs, such as eucalypts, paperbarks and bottlebrushes (although a small number of species are parasitic).<br /> <br /> 15 mm body length.<br /> <br /> Image of larvae: <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/112587/bottlebrush_sawfly_larvae.html Australia,Bottlebrush sawfly,Geotagged,Hymenoptera,Pterygophorus cinctus,Summer,Symphyta,arthropod,insect,invertebrate,macro,new south wales,pergidae" /></a></figure> Australia,Bottlebrush sawfly,Fall,Geotagged,Hymenoptera,Pergidae,Pterygophorus cinctus,Symphyta,arthropod,autumn,bottlebrush sawfly,fauna,insect,invertebrate,macro,new south wales Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Bottlebrush sawfly larvae

Seen feeding on Callistemon citrinus. This grouping was on both sides of the leaf, you can just see the others poking up behind. I found it interesting that the two sets on either side had remained in sync, reducing the leaf at equal speeds.

Body length 10 mm

Image of adult:

Syrphid sawfly ascension I happened to catch this little sawfly just before it took off. <br /> <br /> This is specifically the bottlebrush sawfly, Pterygophorus cinctus.<br /> <br /> Despite the common name, sawflies are not flies. They sit within order Hymenoptera, but within a separate suborder to wasps/ants/bees, namely Symphyta.<br /> <br /> Sawflies do not possess the distinctive thin waist of the other hymenopterans, nor do they possess a sting. The common name comes from the female's saw-like egg-laying tube, which she uses to make a slit in a plant leaf or stem, into which she lays her eggs. <br /> <br /> Our Australian sawfly larvae feed mainly on native trees and shrubs, such as eucalypts, paperbarks and bottlebrushes (although a small number of species are parasitic).<br /> <br /> 15 mm body length.<br /> <br /> Image of larvae: <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/112587/bottlebrush_sawfly_larvae.html Australia,Bottlebrush sawfly,Geotagged,Hymenoptera,Pterygophorus cinctus,Summer,Symphyta,arthropod,insect,invertebrate,macro,new south wales,pergidae

    comments (4)

  1. View Ernst's profile
    Ernst
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    Such good table manners. Great image. Posted 4 years ago
  2. View Flown Kimmerling's profile
    Flown Kimmerling
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    This is wild! <3 Great shot! Posted 4 years ago
  3. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
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    Love it, what a shot! Posted 4 years ago
  4. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
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    Incredible! Posted 4 years ago

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The Bottlebrush sawfly

Pterygophorus cinctus is a swafly recorded in Australia. The adult Bottlebrush Sawfly has an orange and black banded body, with a wingspan of about 2cm. Males have feathery (pectinate) antennae.

Info 12 0
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
Species identified by Ruth Spigelman
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By Ruth Spigelman

Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Uploaded Apr 10, 2021. Captured Apr 3, 2021 14:18 in 59 Merewether St, Merewether NSW 2291, Australia.
country flag of Australia Explore Australia 13,194 4,198 3
  • NIKON D850
  • f/16.0
  • 10/2000s
  • ISO250
  • 105mm
Captured in the fall. More fall photos.

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