Sawfly larvae have three pairs of true legs, followed by seven or eight pairs of fleshy, false legs. The adult is carnivorous, feeding on the larvae of other insects, while its larvae is vegetarian, feeding on the leaves of a wide range of plants including, salix (on which these images were taken), alder, poplar, buttercups, etc. The large rose sawfly (Arge pagana) will produce two (sometimes three) generations from May to October. This Sawfly, slightly larger than a Common House Fly, is common and widely distributed throughout Europe. The sawfly larvae LOOK like caterpillars to the uneducated eye but they are not. Sawfly larvae are so tiny that they you will see the damage they create before you actually see the culprit. Sawflies and their larvae tend to be a popular pest for roses. Adult pine sawfly (Diprion pini) are 10mm long brown winged insects, The larvae reach up to 25mm long and are pale green in colour with a brown head and black markings. Sawflies are members of the same insect order (Hymenoptera) that includes ants, bees, and wasps. In fact, the rose slug sawfly is aptly named just because it eats up rose bushes. Different species of sawflies feed on different plants. Caterpillars have five or fewer pairs of false legs that are armed with tiny hooks. Each sawfly species may have a number of different plant species it will attack, and several different species may attack the same plant. FIG.l6.-Generalized sawfly wing to show Ross's interpretation of the venation. The following may help in the identification of a sawfly leaf miner, once the foodplant is determined and the mine and larva examined: They have different ways of feeding: Pseudodineurini feed with the dorsal side towards the upper side of the leaf and they are able to leave the leaf and make a new mine. This particular post has short stiff hairs with green bodies and dark heads. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. VC55 Status Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Some species change significantly in appearance as they grow, making identification confusing. A sawfly is a primitive wasp-like insect. Sawfly larvae on roses (rose slugs) Rose slugs will eat up roses like crazy. They generally have black or dark coloured bodies. I’ve found that early identification is the best way to manage this pest. The Large Rose Sawfly is a common species all over Britain, although most records come from the south of England. Identifying Sawfly’s Damage Plants Affected. Handpicking may be the only control measure you need to control light infestations. Fox-coloured sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer) is 7-9mm long and pale orange-brown. The adult sawflies can measure up to 2cm (¾in) long, but most are around 6-10mm (¼-½in). The females have a saw-like blade at the tip of the abdomen that is used to cut slits into plant tissue into which they deposit eggs. 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