Purslane sawfly
Schizocerella pilicornis
This record describes Schizocerella pilicornis (species). Recorded family: Argidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
leaf-mining species; mesonotum mostly black
Wikipedia reference for Schizocerella pilicornis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizocerella_pilicornis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Family
- Argidae (Argid Sawflies)
- Subfamily
- Sterictiphorinae
- Genus
- Schizocerella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
so. Canada to Argentina
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae mine leaves of purslane ( Portulaca oleracea )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Schizocerella pilicornis ( Holmgren 1868)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Schizocerella pilicornis. 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 Purslane sawfly (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Devin Carroll; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Purslane sawfly
What is Purslane sawfly?
Purslane sawfly (Schizocerella pilicornis) is a species in the family Argidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Purslane sawfly?
smaller than S. lineata , 5-6 mm
How do you identify Purslane sawfly?
leaf-mining species; mesonotum mostly black
Where is Purslane sawfly found?
Range: so. Canada to Argentina
What does Purslane sawfly eat?
The diet of the Purslane sawfly includes Larvae mine leaves of purslane ( Portulaca oleracea ).