Scarlet Oak Sawfly - Caliroa quercuscoccineae

These larvae skeletonize the lower leaf surface of scarlet oak. Adults insert eggs into leaves, after which the larvae hatch and migrate to the underside of the leaf. They feed gregariously, often lined up next to each other.

Habitat: Scarlet oak leaves (Quercus coccinea)

comments (10)

Pudding4brains

Lion

Larvae of Caliroa or something very closely related. Posted 5 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Arp! Sorry for the delay, I got distracted by chocolate. They are indeed Caliroa sp. - Caliroa quercuscoccineae, I think, because they were on scarlet oak. Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Pudding4brains
    
    Lion
    
    Friggin' excellent Christine (and I hope you enjoyed the chocolate :o) - I had a quick look but BugGuide doesn't even seem to have these larvae!
    I received a link today to a project by ECatSym where they are assembling a worldwide photo repository for sawflies and this species isn't in it either. I will ask if the link is intended to be public/shared, but I'm sure they would love to use this image. Any possibility for that? Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks and sure thing, Arp - it can be shared with whomever is interested. There are several species in this genus (I think) that feed on oak, but I knew that this was scarlet oak, which helped me figure out the species ID. I could be wrong though - if there is another species that feeds on scarlet oak. I couldn't find anything to confirm/deny my ID otherwise. Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Pudding4brains
        
        Lion
        
        Is this anywhere near where you are? It would be good to try and get images of the head/face, legs and hairs on the bum. A bit like these maybe:
        https://old.waarneming.nl/fotonew/8/7389688.jpg
        https://old.waarneming.nl/fotonew/6/7389696.jpg
        For our European species there are some diagnostic features (colour) here. Posted 5 years ago
      2. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Sorry for the delayed reply, Arp! We are having gnarly weather and the electricity keeps going out...
        
        Unfortunately, I took this photo in Rhode Island last autumn. But, it was at my mom's house, and her trees are ALWAYS infested with critters...So, hopefully these larvae will be back this year so I can get some more (and better) photos of them when I visit her! Posted 5 years ago
        
        Pudding4brains
        
        Lion
        
        Ah, okay - I was wondering about that (the larvae of our species appear in fall also), but now I see the date is listed on JD too *rolleyes* Sorry, should have noticed that... Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Hehe, it's okay. I just hope they return...and that quarantine restrictions are lifted by then so we can travel. Posted 5 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

A gem of a photo, interesting behavior and a valuable observation from the conversation above. Congrats! Posted 5 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Ferdy! Posted 5 years ago