Xyelid Sawflies (Xyelidae) - 22 Species, Identification & Facts

Megaxyela inversa

Identification: Female: ovipositor long and dorsally curved, black with white margins on terga, legs orange with hind legs black beyond distal 0.2 of femur Male: unknown

Balsam Shootboring Sawfly

Pleroneura bruneicornis

Damage resembles frost damage, but affected areas pull away easily, revealing larvae or tunnels inside. Damage most visible in summer (June). Prefers young trees under 2 m; potentially damaging to Christmas tree farms. Damage does not kill trees.

Xyela bakeri

Identification: Females with ventral margin of the saw-like end of the abdomen straight, the sheath distinctly short and stout with the dorsal and ventral margins parallel until the dorsal sharply extends down to meet the ventral margin towards the e

Xyela linsleyi

Identification: Females with ventral margin of the saw-like end of the abdomen shallowly curving down, the sheath shorter than 6.5 mm, without the dorsal and ventral margins abruptly meeting at the end to form an acute apex, and in cross section ovul

Xyela middlekauffi

Identification: Females with ventral margin of the saw-like end of the abdomen straight, the sheath with the dorsal and ventral margins tapering throughout their entire length to an acute apex, the cross section of this sheath diamond-shaped, less th

Xyela minor

Identification: Females with ventral margin of the saw-like end of the abdomen shallowly curving down, the sheath shorter than 6.5 mm, without the dorsal and ventral margins abruptly meeting at the end to form an acute apex, ovipositor at least 2 mm