Large Black Fly
July 30, 2009
Hello!
My sister-in-law found this critter as it tried to take a short rest on her shoulder. We didn’t get a very good picture of it, but to be honest everyone was kinda scared of it! He is about 1.5 to 2 inches long, which makes it the largest fly I’ve ever seen in this area. The location is northern New Hampshire, and this was in late July.
I did a bunch of research online, but it doesn’t match anything I can find. The split-wing and yellow stripe are what seems to be throwing me off. He has a head that looks more like a hornet than a fly, but no stinger.
Hope you can help, and thanks for your time!
Tristan
Littleton, NH

Elm Sawfly

Hi Tristan,
The reason this Elm Sawfly has a head that looks like a wasp is that they Sawfly is in the same order of insects as Wasps, Hymenoptera.  Flies only have two wings.  You may read more about Elm Sawflies on BugGuide.

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destructive worm/caterpillar…moving fast…help!
July 26, 2009
Please help me identify this alien army that has shown up and destroyed my evergreen bush in less than three days….will they move on to my other flowers and trees??
Laurie
Southeastern Massachusetts (Plymouth County)

Redheaded Pine Sawfly Larvae

Dear Laurie,
We identified your Red Headed Pine Sawfly, Neodiprion lecontei, on BugGuide, and now that you know what it is, you should be able to find much information posted online.  You do not need to worry about these larvae that are related to wasps moving to other plants in the garden.

Redheaded Pine Sawfly

They feed on “Preferred hosts are red, Scots and jack pines. Also attacked are shortleaf, loblolly, slash, pitch, Swiss mountain, Japanese black, mugho pines, white pine, larch, deodar cedar, and Norway spruce” according to the Forest Pests website.  The Forest Pests website also indicates:  “Larvae may defoliate an entire tree from the top downward (b). Young or stressed trees are preferred, and small ornamental pines may be completely defoliated and killed in heavy infestations. Trees that are growing in poor sites or under stress are attacked more readily than healthy trees. Damage can sometimes be reduced by getting rid of competing vegetation, planting in high-quality sites, and promoting early closure by close plantings. If infestations are light, manual removal of larvae may effectively control the pest.”  The Discover Life website also has much valuable information and control suggestions.

Damage caused by Redheaded Pine Sawfly

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What species of Wasp (?) is this?
July 25, 2009
I found this huge wasp-looking insect in my car, it is over an inch long and has a pure black body, and yellow bands on its legs. It has a huge thick stinger, I have never seen this insect before and would like to know what it is.
Lauren B.
Canada, British Columbia

Wood Wasp

Hi Lauren,
This is a Wood Wasp in the genus Urocerus, probably Urocerus albicornis based on images posted to BugGuide.  Your Wood Wasp may look fierce, but she cannot sting, not only because she is dead, but because what looks like a stinger is actually the ovipositor for laying eggs within wood.

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Glacier Bee/wasp?
July 13, 2009
Hi there, I’m Shannon from Alaska. I took my friend hiking on Byron Glacier today and found a bee like creature… on the ice! I wasn’t sure at first if he melted out of there or was taking a rest but I’ve never seen anything like him around here. I was hoping you could help?
Shannon from Alaska
Byron Glacier/Portage Alaska

Hi Shannon,
Mistaking this Sawfly for a Bee or Wasp is understandable since Bees, Wasps and Sawflies are all in the same order of insects, Hymenoptera.  Sawflies do not sting.  We cannot say for sure what species or even what genus your specimen belongs to, but we are confident it is one of the Cimbicid Sawflies in the family Cimbicidae.  According to BugGuide:  “Adults robust, resemble bumble bees. Base of abdomen broadly joined to thorax (no wasp waist). Antennae have seven or fewer segments, slightly clubbed.“  Your specimen is robust and has clubbed antennae.  The larvae of Cimbicid Sawflies are often confused with caterpillars because of their appearance and because they feed on foliage. BugGuide lists three genera in the family, and all are represented in the western portion of Canada.  At first we thought this might be an Elm Sawfly which is reported from Canada, but now, because all the examples of Elm Sawflies on BugGuide show yellow antennae, we believe this might be a Honeysuckle Sawfly, Trichiosoma triangulum, and BugGuide has an image posted from Montana that looks very similar.

Update from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
The sawfly with the cigarette lighter is, besides causing trouble (ha!), probably Cimbex pacifica.
Eric

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