Unidentified Sawfy Larva - Trichiosoma

Moved

Moved from Unidentified Sawfly Larvae.

… Charley Eiseman, 19 July, 2019 - 5:27am

I do not know whether Trichio

I do not know whether Trichiosoma triangulatum or another species, but Trichiosoma sp. at least.

… Alexander Boldyrev, 19 July, 2019 - 3:21am

Sawfly larva

Is this possibly the larva of Trichiosoma triangulatum

… Doug Waylett, 22 December, 2009 - 8:58pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Tim Loh, 21 December, 2009 - 7:22pm

Sawfly larva

They do look amazingly like caterpillars! There are two big differences: sawflies have more prolegs (6 or more pairs; caterpillars never have more than 5), and fewer eyes - only one on each side of the head; caterpillars have six tiny ones per side.

That big sawfly eye stands out really well here - I could even see it in the thumbnail. On dark-headed larvae the eyes are hard to see, and then you have to count prolegs. With a light head like this, the eyes have it.

All that said, I don't know what kind of sawfly this is. Foodplant is usually the key to ID'ing these, but if it was on the ground, it might have fallen off its plant or wandered away to pupate. We do have some sawfly experts, I hope they can narrow it down for you!

… Abigail Parker, 21 December, 2009 - 4:08pm

For what it's worth...

...the leaf that the larva is resting on in this photo is from a rose (Rosa). (And the PLANTS database lists only four species for Alberta: R. acicularis, R. arkansana, R. blanda, R. woodsii). Some sawflies specialize on roses.

… John Pearson, 23 December, 2009 - 7:54am

Sawfly

The leaf that the sawfly larva is on was placed there by me for photographic purposes. Almost certainly it is Rosa acicularis.

… Doug Waylett, 23 December, 2009 - 10:58am

Sawfly larva

Thank you very much Abigail. I never would have guessed it. Something new for me to keep in mind when I find caterpillars.

… Doug Waylett, 21 December, 2009 - 4:17pm