Elm Sawfly

Appearance

The adult form of the Elm Sawfly have a body color of either reddish-brown to black or all black with some yellow spots on their abdomen, resembling wasp-like colors. The average size of the adult Elm Sawfly is about 25 millimeters long and they have transparent, grayish wings projecting out from their thorax for flying. Both female and male adults have a black head with antennae projecting between their light-sensitive eyes, known as ocelli. Their legs are larger and more advanced than the legs of their larval stage and the color of their legs vary in color from orange to black (Borror et al. 1989).

Distribution

Most of North America

Habitat

Woodlands

Reproduction

After mating, females cut slits in the undersurfaces of leaves where they deposit eggs. Larvae hatch in 7–10 days and feed on foliage until late summer or early autumn. Mature larvae drop to the ground and search for pupation sites among the debris at the base of the host tree, where they spin cocoons and overwinter as prepupae (non-feeding larvae). Pupation usually takes place the following spring, although some prepupae pass a second winter before pupating. Adults emerge about two weeks after pupation.