Dock Sawfly
Ametastegia glabrata
This record describes Ametastegia glabrata (species). Recorded family: Tenthredinidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Tenthredinidae (Common Sawflies)
- Subfamily
- Allantinae
- Tribe
- Empriini
- Genus
- Ametastegia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
native to, and widespread across, the Palaearctic ; adventive in NA and now transcontinental in Canada & n. US (NS-BC to NC-IL-UT-OR) , Chile, Australia ( Malipatel et al. 1995 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts: mostly Polygonaceae (esp. Polygonum, Rumex ), also Chenopodium , etc.
Life History
fully grown larvae move from host to form pupal cell in substrata such as apples, various stalks, twigs & canes, rotten wood, etc. (and thus may be reared from unrelated plants); 3 generations a year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Ametastegia glabrata (Fallén 1808)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Ametastegia glabrata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Dock Sawfly (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Dock Sawfly
How big is Dock Sawfly?
♂ 6.1-6.4 mm, ♀ 7.4-7.8 mm
Where is Dock Sawfly found?
Range: native to, and widespread across, the Palaearctic ; adventive in NA and now transcontinental in Canada & n. US (NS-BC to NC-IL-UT-OR) , Chile, Australia ( Malipatel et al. 1995 )
What does Dock Sawfly eat?
The diet of the Dock Sawfly includes hosts: mostly Polygonaceae (esp. Polygonum, Rumex ), also Chenopodium , etc..
What is the life cycle of a Dock Sawfly?
fully grown larvae move from host to form pupal cell in substrata such as apples, various stalks, twigs & canes, rotten wood, etc. (and thus may be reared from unrelated plants); 3 generations a year