European Wheat Stem Sawfly vs Dock Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute European Wheat Stem Sawfly Dock Sawfly
Scientific Name Cephus pygmeus Ametastegia glabrata
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Cephidae Tenthredinidae
Size 8-10 mm (adult) 5-7 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia, North America Europe, introduced to North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

European Wheat Stem Sawfly

A stem-boring sawfly pest of wheat and other cereals throughout Europe and western Asia. It has also established in parts of North America.

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Did You Know?

Solid-stemmed wheat varieties were bred specifically to resist stem sawfly larval boring.

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.