Sawflies belong to the Class Insecta within the Order Hymenoptera, where bees, wasps, and ants fit in. The sawflies acquire this name for their saw-like egg-laying aperture that is also, used to bore slits in the stems and leaves where they lay eggs. Most of them are true sawflies that feed on the foliage of many plant species besides Orussoidea family wasps that are parasitic on wood-boring beetles. The adults are short-lived and hardly survive for a few days, whereas the larval stages of some species may live for months. Sawflies often feed in aggregates and swiftly defoliate their host plants. They are also host-specific species and don’t migrate to the neighboring plants of different species. For Example, rose Sawflies feed only on rose and tobacco whereas, pine sawflies feed only on pine species. Sawflies feed on the foliage, flowers, nectars, and tender shoots that could cause significant damage if the sawflies' infestations become higher.
Sawflies originated from Eurasia and North America but, were accidentally introduced to temperate, tropical, subtropical, and arctic North America. The redheaded pine sawflies, Neodiprion lecontei, are native to the US and Canada which, defoliates only pine trees. Similarly, wheat stem sawflies were introduced by humans from northeast Asia to Western North America in the last century, and now they exist in both habitats. Also, rose sawflies are evenly distributed through most North American nurseries, gardens, and landscapes and have become a pest of concern for gardeners. Some of the most common sawflies which, are considered heavy defoliators include Mountain Ash sawflies, Pear sawflies, Scarlet Oak sawflies, Columbine sawflies, European pine sawflies, Birch leafminer, Elm sawflies, Dusky birch sawflies, Dogwood sawflies, and rose sawflies, and they've found on their respective hosts throughout the US in the forests, rangelands, rural and urban garden settings, and landscapes.
The adult sawflies are unobtrusive and look like wasps But, they're stingless. The feeding larvae look and act like caterpillars. The caterpillars and sawfly larvae have three pairs of legs. But, the caterpillars possess 2 to 5 pairs of prolegs over the abdomen whereas, sawflies have 6 of them. Another distinctive but hard to study feature is the presence of crochets on prolegs in caterpillars that sawflies lack. The sawflies larvae have a single pair of eyes whereas, the caterpillars have 4 to 6 eyes on either side of the head. Another identification in sawflies is their unity and living together in groups. They feed in groups and defoliate plants pretty speedily.
sawflies go through four discrete life stages. i.e., egg, larva, pupa and adult. Many species lay an egg without male fertilization. Such eggs hatch into males that die within 10-days of emergence. Females emerge from the fertilized eggs. An individual sawfly could live for many months to two years with a very short adult stage. Female sawfly drills into the stems using an ovipositor and lays between 30 to 90 eggs. Often, the egg-laying sites receive full sun that helps them hatch rapidly. Eggs hatching completes between 14 to 28 days in different species depending on the surrounding temperature. Some sawflies guard the eggs until they hatch and raise buzzing sounds when feared by predators. Six larval stages take between 60 to 120 days in different species. When they become adults, larvae drop down from the trees and pupates in the soil.
Most of the sawflies species are host-specific besides, they extend their damages to the other plants of the same family. For instance, rose sawflies damage most of the plants in the family Rosaceae, and Solanaceae whereas, Pine Sawflies remain restricted to Conifers only. Often, they feed on the lower surfaces of the leaves eating the entire soft tissues and leaving behind the veins only. This makes the leaves appear shining and papery. The largescale defoliation weakens the host plants and could diminish their ability to photosynthesize. Generally, the light to the moderate presence of sawflies may be acceptable. However, a heavier infestation could lead to quick defoliation of the hosts.
Often, the homes fenced with trees and having rich landscapes around are predicted to have sawflies infestation on the arrival of the spring. They are sighted when Sawflies eggs hatch under favorable conditions, and the larvae appear in aggregates on the surface of the leaves. It also remains the best time to check their development since they're easy to handle, and their aggregation habit makes them easy to control.
Besides following all preventive measures if sawflies infestation go beyond your control, here are the most authentic ways to keep their population suppressed using the biological, organic, and chemical methodologies;
This package contains 20 million beneficial nematodes, Steinernema feltiae, primarily used for fungus Gnats during larval growth stages and can also be used to suppress sawflies larvae, however complete removal is often impossible. These nematodes are also good for controlling larvae that are present in the soil during the pupation stage. Beneficial nematodes are microscopic and non-segmented worms that terminate almost 200 types of insect pests that develop in the soil, before becoming adults.
Nematodes can be used aerially on the foliage of the plants or drenched into the garden soil. Do put all 4-sachets in 2 gallons of water and apply it either way. Be sure to keep the soil moist for the next 3 to 4 days once drenched in the garden soil.
Ladybugs are good predators for many slow-moving insect pests that appear in your garden once the conditions become favorable to them in spring and summer. Generally, ladybugs prey on mites, leafhoppers, leaf rollers, aphids, and sawflies. Since these bugs are pre-fed and could start preying on sawflies immediately once you release them in the garden. Ladybugs often search and destroy their enemies within 12 feet radius, and once their prey becomes scarce they can feed on foliage and flowers. It can be complemented by growing flowering and leguminous plants on the garden peripheries. But, in most cases, they leave your garden after feeding on many pests that otherwise keep damaging your plants.
1500 live ladybugs are enough for release in a 1000 square feet garden.
This DE contains 85% of Silicon Dioxide, which derives from the fossilized remains of unicellular algae, referred to as a diatom. Its mode of action is physical as its sharp edges abrade sawflies' skin. Water loss starts from the damaged skin that melts after DE application. Finally, the sawflies are dead due to excessive moisture loss from the body. Diatomaceous Earth is entirely an organic, and natural product that kills insect pests without any harm to the environment. It is non-toxic and residue doesn't pass in the edibles. DE is an excellent choice for growers looking for residue-free organic production.
Spread DE in the soil and foliage affected by sawflies. Killing starts immediately, and it takes 24 hours to take a full hold over the pests.
Natria- Neem oil contains a 70% active ingredient that comprises Azadirachtin, and their ovicidal activity against some insect species is established. The products containing Azadirachtin are broad-spectrum insecticides that deter insect feeding besides being excellent fungicides, sterility inducers, and insect growth regulators. Moreover, it controls many insects from more than 6 insect Orders. Natria is effective against many sawflies species when applied during early larval growth. The product is highly recommended in organic gardening for many insect pest complexes. It is also OMRI listed and used on edible plants to harvest.
Add 2 ounces of the product concentrate per gallon of water, and apply on both sides of the leaves using a knapsack sprayer thoroughly.
The active ingredient of the systemic Granules is 0.22% Imidacloprid. The granules come in a ready-to-use formulation since a concentrated Imidacloprid product contains active ingredients in the range of 20 t 25%. The granules spread easily around the non-bearing shrubs, trees, ornamental plants, and landscapes. Avoid using systemic granules on edibles, especially seasonal vegetables, and fruits as their residual effects could sustain up to 120 days in the soil and edibles. These granules can provide control over sawflies for up to 2 months during the active growing period.
After broadcasting granules in the garden soil, do water heavily to prolong granules effects.
Check out our other guides on common garden bugs.
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