Unknown Caterpillar - Haymatus blassus

Moved

Moved from images that Dr Smith was unable to identify past family [tmp.].

… Charley Eiseman, 29 October, 2020 - 10:09am

Adult Sawfly Photos

I have been trying to i.d. a sawfly defoliating my Philadelphus coronarius for years. I've added my own photos for an i.d. request that include what I believe to be adults of the larvae that are so numerous. I have also added photos of the larvae. They look a great deal like these.
I'm so glad to these photos - hope to get to the bottom of the sawfly mystery.

… Ging, 21 June, 2018 - 3:50pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

Sawfly expert Dave Smith says:
"No sawflies have been recorded from Philadelphus. This is a first, and hopefully we can get adults sometime. Its amazing something that looks so distinct and on a popular plant hasn’t been reared. It sort of looks like an allantine. I can’t make out the number of dorsal annulets on the abdominal segments, but if 7 it is probably a tenthredinine, maybe Tenthredo or Macrophya."

… Charley Eiseman, 28 April, 2017 - 7:59am

rearing this sawfly larvae

I am currently (6/12/18) rearing two larvae. I located them on my Philadelpus inodorus. I observed them feeding on the fruit and leaves. I will post to here with pictures.

… Torry Nergart, 13 June, 2018 - 8:54am

Great!

Do you have experience rearing sawfly larvae? They can be tricky; they often need to burrow in soil and then overwinter before adults emerge. My methods are explained here.

… Charley Eiseman, 13 June, 2018 - 9:52am

rearing this sawfly larvae

A great primer! My question now is, is this worth the trouble? Is there need for data on this species?

… Torry Nergart, 14 June, 2018 - 8:49am

Definitely worth the trouble

We have no idea what this species is, and that can only be answered by rearing adults (or catching them in the act of laying eggs).

… Charley Eiseman, 14 June, 2018 - 11:15am

Well, good to hear. I will go

Well, good to hear. I will go with the peat/tissue/cork method.

… Torry Nergart, 16 June, 2018 - 10:36am

Any luck with rearing?

Hi Torry, just wondering if you've had any luck rearing these larvae?

… Spencer K. Monckton, 1 May, 2019 - 8:00am

no luck with rearing

I started late into this part of their cycle, only had 2, no luck. Trying again this year, hopefully with some results. The plant has grown quite a bit, and I planted one more.

… Torry Nergart, 3 April, 2020 - 12:58pm

Philadelphus sawflies

I have had these for years and finally saw the adults this year. They are solid black and were swarming all around the shrub. Now the bottom leaves are being chewed up.
http://blog.syracuse.com/cny/2010/07/help_for_mock_orange_sawflies.html
I submitted a photo of the eggs taken 30 May 2017.

… Carol Bradford, 4 June, 2018 - 11:05pm

Photos of the adults would be great!

Even better, a specimen or two :)

… Spencer K. Monckton, 1 May, 2019 - 8:01am

Sawfly larva

Good that you noted the host plant. Hosts are only known for about 25% of North American sawflies... I Googled "mock orange sawfly", and I found a lot of references to what seems to be this same insect, but no one mentions the Latin name. You might have to rear it to find out what it is.

This one appears to be the same:

… Charley Eiseman, 27 April, 2017 - 9:53am

Caterpillar

Thank you very much. It does appear to be Sawfly Larva.

… John Morgan, 27 April, 2017 - 10:09am