Plum Webspinning Sawfly
Neurotoma inconspicua
This record describes Neurotoma inconspicua (species). Recorded family: Pamphiliidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults are black with supraocular spots, their wings are hyaline with faint bands beneath the stigma. Their legs are mostly reddish brown beyond the coxae.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Pamphiliidae (Webspinning and Leafrolling Sawflies)
- Subfamily
- Pamphiliinae
- Genus
- Neurotoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
southeastern Canada and from New England to Montana
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Hawthorn, various wild plums, and wild cherries
Life History
The larvae are gregarious and web together the foliage. Heavily infested trees that are no more than 6' tall may support up to 25 webs.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Norton, 1869
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Neurotoma inconspicua. 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 Plum Webspinning Sawfly (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Plum Webspinning Sawfly
What is Plum Webspinning Sawfly?
Plum Webspinning Sawfly (Neurotoma inconspicua) is a species in the family Pamphiliidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Plum Webspinning Sawfly?
Adults are black with supraocular spots, their wings are hyaline with faint bands beneath the stigma. Their legs are mostly reddish brown beyond the coxae.
Where is Plum Webspinning Sawfly found?
Range: southeastern Canada and from New England to Montana
What does Plum Webspinning Sawfly eat?
The diet of the Plum Webspinning Sawfly includes Hawthorn, various wild plums, and wild cherries.
What is the life cycle of a Plum Webspinning Sawfly?
The larvae are gregarious and web together the foliage. Heavily infested trees that are no more than 6' tall may support up to 25 webs.