Species Cladius pectinicornis - Bristly Roseslug Sawfly

Cladius difformis (Panzer, 1799) is often considered as synonymous to Cladius pectinicornis (Geoffroy 1785)(1). While Dr. D.R. Smith maintains that the two are distinct species (with C. pectinicornis being strictly Palaearctic and C. difformis found in the Nearctic), subsequent literature has found no morphological nor genetic rationale to separate the two.

Cladius pectinicornis (Geoffroy, 1785)

5-7 mm(2)

"Few sawflies have hairs such as this. Rather long hairs on body, prolegs on abdominal segments 2-7 and 10, and feeding on rose pretty well narrows this down to the bristly roseslug." --Dr. Smith's comments

Native to the Palaearctic; probably introduced in North America(2)

Larvae feed on rose leaves, raspberry and strawberry; skeletonizing at first and eating all the leaf tissues but the veins when they get bigger.

They go through multiple generations a year, if the weather stays warm.

may damage raspberry and strawberry(2)

Fact sheet [Web Archive] (Rosetta 2009)(3)