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Article: Conifer sawflies.(PEST OF THE MONTH)
- Article from:
- Arbor Age
- Article date:
- April 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Adams Business Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Although their name implies they are related to flies, sawflies are actually a group of insects related to wasps and bees. The name "sawfly" comes from the saw-like ovipositor that the female uses to cut plant tissue to insert her eggs.
What does it look like?
Immature sawflies, or larvae, resemble caterpillars, but there are some key differences. Caterpillars have two to five pair of prolegs on their abdomens. These are fleshy, non-segmented legs. Sawfly larvae have six or more pair of prolegs. Caterpillars have tiny hooks called crochets on the bottom of the prolegs; sawflies do not have crochets. Also, most sawflies have distinct head capsules that ...