Southern Oak Bush-Cricket vs Rose Slug Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Southern Oak Bush-Cricket Rose Slug Sawfly
Scientific Name Meconema meridionale Endelomyia aethiops
Order Orthoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tettigoniidae Tenthredinidae
Size 11-15 mm 4-5 mm
Habitat Forests Underground
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Southern and Western Europe (expanding northward) Europe, introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Southern Oak Bush-Cricket

A small, wingless relative of the oak bush-cricket that has rapidly spread northward across Europe, likely aided by accidental transport in vehicles. It is fully arboreal and flightless.

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Did You Know?

Being flightless, it likely spread across Europe by hitchhiking on cars and trucks parked under infested trees.

Rose Slug Sawfly

A small, dark sawfly whose slug-like larvae skeletonize rose leaves by feeding on the upper leaf surface. Larvae are pale yellowish-green and covered in a thin mucus layer.

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Did You Know?

Damaged rose leaves develop a characteristic translucent, papery appearance as only the lower epidermis remains after larval feeding.