Poison Ivy Sawfly
Arge humeralis
This record describes Arge humeralis (species). Recorded family: Argidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Arge humeralis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arge_humeralis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Argidae (Argid Sawflies)
- Genus
- Arge
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e. NA (NH-FL to ND-NM)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva feeds on poison ivy, Toxicodendron (Rhus) radicans , and related species ( Illinois Wildflowers )
Life History
Larvae; larva; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Arge humeralis ( Palisot de Beauvois 1809)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Arge humeralis. 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 Poison Ivy Sawfly (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by cotinis , Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz , Vox Sciurorum , v belov , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Poison Ivy Sawfly
How big is Poison Ivy Sawfly?
♂ 7.0-9.0 mm, ♀ 8.0-11.0 mm
Where is Poison Ivy Sawfly found?
Range: e. NA (NH-FL to ND-NM)
What does Poison Ivy Sawfly eat?
The diet of the Poison Ivy Sawfly includes Larva feeds on poison ivy, Toxicodendron (Rhus) radicans , and related species ( Illinois Wildflowers ).
What is the life cycle of a Poison Ivy Sawfly?
Larvae; larva; adult