Insect Gallery

Sawfly
Image courtesy of Becky Carroll, Oklahoma State University

Sawfly feeding damage
Image courtesy of Charlie Graham

Insect Details

Name: Sawflies

Latin Name: Periclista spp.

Description: Adults are small, bee-like insects about 1/5 inch long. Larvae are leaf-green in color, about 1/10 inch long upon hatching and about 5/8 inch long when fully grown. The larvae have six to eight pairs of abdominal prolegs.

Insects Life Cycle: Adults emerge from the ground in April and deposit small pale-green eggs in the tissue of pecan leaflets. The eggs hatch and larvae feed on the undersides of leaves. Upon completing their development, larvae enter the soil 1 to 3 inches deep where they construct cocoons and overwinter.

Insects Symptons: Sawfly larvae generally feed on the underside of leaves and chew round holes in the leaflet. Feeding holes start small but increase in size as larvae develop. Damaged leaves often have a shot-like or lacy appearance.