"Mr. Fuzzums" - Apparent Cat. with waxy 'fur'... - Eriocampa ovata

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Symphyta" - Sawflies, Horntails, and Wood Wasps » Common Sawflies (Tenthredinidae) » Allantinae » Eriocampini » Eriocampa » Woolly Alder Sawfly (Eriocampa ovata)

Photo#432878

Copyright © 2010 Cassie Novak

"Mr. Fuzzums" - Apparent Cat. with waxy 'fur'... - Eriocampa ovata

8th Crow Wing Lake, Hubbard County, Minnesota, USA
July 26, 2010
Size: About 10mm long

I know, I know. Most embarrassing name for a bug ever!

Out in one of my "Bugging Meadows", I found this lovely creature on the underside of a Box Elder leaf, and was feeding on it earlier. I have never seen one of these before. What a find! I am 90% sure it's a caterpillar, since it appeared to have prolegs. It was sluggish in a typical caterpillar way, and the palest green color could be seen on it's sides from below. You can see these fairly symmetrical and obvious spiracles.

I've looked everywhere through the guide, but quickly became 'browser fatigued'. Help would be great. I would love to see what it turns into, instead of taking it in to see it develop.

Thanks folks!

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Contributed by Cassie Novak on 26 July, 2010 - 5:08pm
Last updated 27 July, 2019 - 11:20am

Moved

Moved from Unidentified Sawfly Larvae.

… Charley Eiseman, 27 July, 2019 - 11:20am

looks like Eriocampa ovata

Only two species of Eriocampa :
E. ovata on Alnus (but not Acer)
E. juglandis on Juglans - usually with more long threads

… Alexander Boldyrev, 27 July, 2019 - 11:16am

Moved

Moved from "Symphyta" - Sawflies, Horntails, and Wood Wasps.

… John R. Maxwell, 24 April, 2011 - 11:38pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… john and jane balaban, 5 August, 2010 - 3:35pm

Thanks, both of you!

It's been quite a Sawfly year this year. Lots of adults and oodles of little grubs everywhere. Some of the Alder and Elm trees look like swiss cheese! I had a feeling it was not a caterpillar, because even with the prolegs it just seemed to curl up and hide it's head like any of the larger Sawflies.

I always try and get the host plant. It makes things SO much easier.

Thanks! I'll definitely check back to see if the adult shows up.

… Cassie Novak, 26 July, 2010 - 6:13pm

Sawfly, maybe?

Some of them are woolly/waxy like yours:

EDIT: Dang! Two minutes late. :)

… Ken Wolgemuth, 26 July, 2010 - 5:43pm

Likely the larva of a sawfly.

Great that you know the hostplant. Here's one example

Edit: Wow! and we picked the same image! Great minds....

… john and jane balaban, 26 July, 2010 - 5:41pm

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