European Alder Leaf-mining Sawfly
Fenusa dohrnii
This record describes Fenusa dohrnii (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
- Heterarthrinae
- Tribe
- Fenusini
- Genus
- Fenusa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
holarctic; transcontinental in so. Canada & n. US south to PA-IL-UT-NM-OR
Diet and Behavior
Diet: host: Alnus (alders); larvae mine in the leaves
Life History
Likely multiple generations per year Overwinter as larvae in the ground; pupation occurs in spring. Adults lay eggs in late May and early June. Full-grown larvae drop to the ground to pupate. A 2nd generation of adults appear from late July to early Sept.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Fenusa dohrnii (Tischbein, 1846)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Fenusa dohrnii. 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 European Alder Leaf-mining Sawfly (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by v belov , Marci Hess , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About European Alder Leaf-mining Sawfly
How big is European Alder Leaf-mining Sawfly?
♀ ~4 mm
Where is European Alder Leaf-mining Sawfly found?
Range: holarctic; transcontinental in so. Canada & n. US south to PA-IL-UT-NM-OR
What does European Alder Leaf-mining Sawfly eat?
The diet of the European Alder Leaf-mining Sawfly includes host: Alnus (alders); larvae mine in the leaves.
What is the life cycle of a European Alder Leaf-mining Sawfly?
Likely multiple generations per year Overwinter as larvae in the ground; pupation occurs in spring. Adults lay eggs in late May and early June. Full-grown larvae drop to the ground to pupate. A 2nd generation of adults appear from late July to early Sept.