Bristly Roseslug Sawfly
Cladius pectinicornis
This record describes Cladius pectinicornis (species). Recorded family: Tenthredinidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Few sawflies have hairs such as this. Rather long hairs on body, prolegs on abdominal segments 2-7 and 10, and feeding on rose pretty well narrows this down to the bristly roseslug. --Dr. Smith's comments may damage raspberry and strawberry
Wikipedia reference for Cladius pectinicornis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladius_pectinicornis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Tenthredinidae (Common Sawflies)
- Subfamily
- Nematinae
- Tribe
- Cladiini
- Genus
- Cladius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Native to the Palaearctic; probably introduced in North America
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on rose leaves, raspberry and strawberry; skeletonizing at first and eating all the leaf tissues but the veins when they get bigger.
Life History
They go through multiple generations a year, if the weather stays warm.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Cladius pectinicornis (Geoffroy, 1785)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Cladius pectinicornis. 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 Bristly Roseslug Sawfly (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz , ceiseman , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Bristly Roseslug Sawfly
What is Bristly Roseslug Sawfly?
Bristly Roseslug Sawfly (Cladius pectinicornis) is a species in the family Tenthredinidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Bristly Roseslug Sawfly?
5-7 mm
How do you identify Bristly Roseslug Sawfly?
Few sawflies have hairs such as this. Rather long hairs on body, prolegs on abdominal segments 2-7 and 10, and feeding on rose pretty well narrows this down to the bristly roseslug. --Dr. Smith's comments
Where is Bristly Roseslug Sawfly found?
Range: Native to the Palaearctic; probably introduced in North America
What does Bristly Roseslug Sawfly eat?
The diet of the Bristly Roseslug Sawfly includes Larvae feed on rose leaves, raspberry and strawberry; skeletonizing at first and eating all the leaf tissues but the veins when they get bigger..
What is the life cycle of a Bristly Roseslug Sawfly?
They go through multiple generations a year, if the weather stays warm.