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Photo#1062731
Cimbicid Sawfly? - Trichiosoma lanuginosum

Cimbicid Sawfly? - Trichiosoma lanuginosum
Old Mill site in Westwood, elevation 5100', Lassen County, California, USA
April 27, 2015
Size: Body length 17mm
At first I thought this very interesting looking insect was a bee; but after photographing it I think perhaps it is a Cimbicid Sawfly; and perhaps a genus Trichiosoma species - see here: (1). Species Trichiosoma triangulum (2) just seems to be a bit too different looking; but then it is a variable looking species. The only other California species, mentioned on the info page, is T. lanuginosum, which might be a possibility.

Any further ID help is very much appreciated - thanks!

Images of this individual: tag all
Cimbicid Sawfly? - Trichiosoma lanuginosum Cimbicid Sawfly? - Trichiosoma lanuginosum Cimbicid Sawfly? - Trichiosoma lanuginosum Cimbicid Sawfly? - Trichiosoma lanuginosum Cimbicid Sawfly? - Trichiosoma lanuginosum Cimbicid Sawfly? - Trichiosoma lanuginosum

Moved
Moved from Trichiosoma.

These images agree with Norton's original description of the species (p. 44), which notes the long and dense setae on the thorax, lack of any testaceous color to the antennae, and darker wings (black-yellow rather than testaceous - this seems to be particularly notable along the costal margin).

 
Thank you Jonathan!
I appreciate your help in confirming the species name for this specimen.

Moved
Moved from Cimbicid Sawflies.

Any guesses to food plant?
A friend posted a photo of what is, I'm reasonably confident, this same species from Truckee a week ago. With those mandibles, I think male Trichiosoma is a great bet, but I'm not familiar with Cimbicids. I've read what little I could easily find, and it seems like these usually go after hardwoods, with triangulum known to use Prunus. As my friend's was crawling around on her porch, I'm hoping that the hostplant is somewhat nearby in her or her neighbors' yards. I'd be curious if your site had much in the way of, say Sorbus, Prunus. For what it's worth, she said hers was under Salix, but if that's the host, that hardly narrows down the search!

 
Hi Will,
I have several cherry trees and several cherry plum trees growing in my yard. Being found under a willow could be just coincident for your friends specimen. It would be nice to get a species ID someday for this interesting looking sawfly.

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