Mountain Ash Sawfly vs European Spruce Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Mountain Ash Sawfly | European Spruce Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pristiphora geniculata | Gilpinia hercyniae |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Diprionidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, introduced to North America | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Mountain Ash Sawfly
A small blackish sawfly with pale legs whose green larvae can completely defoliate mountain ash (rowan) trees. Larvae have dark heads and feed gregariously.
Did You Know?
Introduced to North America in the early 1900s, it quickly became the most damaging pest of ornamental mountain ash trees across the continent.
European Spruce Sawfly
A moderately sized sawfly with dark brown to black coloring and pectinate antennae in males. Larvae are green with white lateral stripes and feed on spruce needles.
Did You Know?
After its introduction to North America in the 1920s, it caused massive spruce defoliation until a naturally occurring nuclear polyhedrosis virus brought populations under control.