Black Headed Birch Sawfly vs Golden Pergid Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black Headed Birch Sawfly Golden Pergid Sawfly
Scientific Name Craesus alniastri Perga gravenhorstii
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Pergidae
Size 7-9 mm 14-22 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Black Headed Birch Sawfly

A medium-sized sawfly with a dark head and orange body. Larvae are greenish-blue with black heads and feed communally on birch and alder leaves.

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Did You Know?

When a predator approaches, the entire colony of larvae simultaneously rears up and thrashes, making the group appear larger and more threatening.

Golden Pergid Sawfly

A large Australian sawfly with distinctive golden-orange coloring and dark wing venation. Larvae are gregarious spitfires on eucalyptus.

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Did You Know?

Female Perga sawflies show an unusual degree of parental care, standing guard over their egg masses for days to protect them from parasitoids.