Dogwood Sawfly Larvae

Sawfly larvae may look like caterpillars, but they are actually wasps. Macremphytus species, in particular, are an interesting genus of sawfly because the second larval instar is covered in a white waxy covering, while the last larval instar is yellow and black. The caterpillar-like larvae feed on the leaves of dogwood trees and shrubs (Cornus sp.). The larvae can cause considerable defoliation since often they feed in groups, but they don't usually kill the plants.

I spotted hundreds of these larvae on shrubs (I assume Cornus sp.) along a nature trail. The shrubs were 90% defoliated. Most of the larvae were curled up under the remaining leaves or crawling around, and dangling over my head. I struggled to get these shots as they were crawling up my legs and dropping on my head.