Sawflies
| Related Wasp and Bee Info Paper Wasps (Polistes) Types of Bees Types of Wasps |
The name sawflies refers to the female ovipositor, that acts like a saw to cut through leaves in order to lay eggs. The larvae go through a caterpillar stage prior to adulthood.
Unlike wasps, sawflies do not have a thin joint or waist between the thorax and abdomen. They also do not sting.
While it is not common for all sawfly species, the black eyes on the red head (sometimes next to a red thorax) serves as another good field identification clue.
© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels