![]() As the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on foliage between July and September. Identification & LifecycleĪdult dogwood sawflies emerge from late May through July and lay eggs on dogwood leaves. Unchecked, heavy populations of dogwood sawflies can cause significant defoliation. ![]() Thus, it’s important to always check beneath leaves if you suspect that insects might be feeding on a plant. Despite this gregarious behavior, they often go undetected because they do most of their feeding on the undersides of dogwood leaves. It is typical for a dozen or more larvae to collectively munch on the same leaf. Dogwoods that have large chunks missing from their leaves are probably host to at least a few sawfly larvae.ĭogwood sawflies can create significant defoliation, largely because they feed in groups. The larvae have chewing mouthparts that create sizable holes in leaves. ![]() Dogwood sawflies feed on the leaves of several shrubby dogwood species including gray dogwood ( Cornus racemosa), blood-twig dogwood ( Cornus sanguinea) and red osier dogwood ( Cornus sericea). Sawflies generally attack a small range of host plants, and you can narrow down which species you are dealing with based on what type of plant it is eating. Additionally, sawflies lack the hooks (crochets) found at the end of caterpillar prolegs, and most have bodies that are hairless. Sawfly larvae have 6-8 pairs of prolegs (the rear legs attached to the abdomen of the insect), while caterpillars only have 2-5. Immature sawfly larvae look very much like caterpillars, but they have a few distinct differences. However, sawfly larvae, including conifer sawflies and rose slugs, can cause significant damage to landscape plants. Adult sawflies are non-stinging, wasp-like insects that usually go unnoticed in the garden. One of the most common pests of dogwood in New Hampshire is the dogwood sawfly.
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