European Apple Sawfly
Hoplocampa testudinea
This record describes Hoplocampa testudinea (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
- Nematinae
- Tribe
- Hoplocampini
- Genus
- Hoplocampa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
native to, and widespread across Europe, adventive in NA, now across ne. US (to VA) and adjacent Canada (NS-ON)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed in developing fruits of apples and possibly other fruits
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Hoplocampa testudinea (Klug)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Hoplocampa testudinea. 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 Apple Sawfly (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About European Apple Sawfly
How big is European Apple Sawfly?
adult up to 8 mm
Where is European Apple Sawfly found?
Range: native to, and widespread across Europe, adventive in NA, now across ne. US (to VA) and adjacent Canada (NS-ON)
What does European Apple Sawfly eat?
The diet of the European Apple Sawfly includes Larvae feed in developing fruits of apples and possibly other fruits.