Dock Sawfly vs Colorful Ichneumon

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dock Sawfly Colorful Ichneumon
Scientific Name Ametastegia glabrata Ichneumon sarcitorius
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Ichneumonidae
Size 5-7 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Farmland Underground
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, introduced to North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dock Sawfly

A small, shiny dark green to black sawfly with pale legs. Larvae are pale green caterpillar-like grubs that feed on dock and sorrel leaves.

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Did You Know?

In North America, dock sawfly larvae sometimes bore into apples to pupate, making them a nuisance pest in orchards despite not actually feeding on the fruit.

Colorful Ichneumon

A medium-sized ichneumon with a black body, yellow scutellum, and orange-tipped abdomen. It is one of the most commonly recorded ichneumons in Europe.

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Did You Know?

Males are frequently seen on umbellifer flowers in late summer, making them one of the easiest ichneumons to observe.