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S TAT E FOR EST S 0 F NEW SOU T.H W ALE S

FORESTPROTECTION
RESEARCH DIVISION S E R I E S NUM B E R E5 ISSN 0158·3832 ISBN 0730556697

EUCALYPT SAWFLlES
(PERGA DORSALIS AND PERGAGRAPTA SPP.)
Deborah Kent

INTRODUCTION
Sawflies (Hymenoptera: Pergidae) are not true flies
but belong to the group of insects which include the bees,
wasps and ants. Although many insects in this group are
beneficial insects, sawflies eat plant foliage. All damage
is caused by the larvae; adult sawflies are rarely seen and
do not feed.

This leaflet provides information on the steelblue sa wfly,

Perga dorsalis, and several eucalypt-defoliating saw flies,
Pergagrapta spp. (i.e., more than one species). The larvae Figure 1. Female layillg eggs into leaf.
of these sawflies often completely defoliate young
eucalypt trees, and could become serious pests in eucalypt female lays eggs in leaf
plantations. A wide range of eucalypt species, including
Eucalyptlls pilularis (blackbutt) and E. grandis (flooded
gum), are known food plants of the these sawflies.

LIFE HISTORY AND GENERAL BIOLOGY

Adult sawflies are large stout-bodied wasps, ranging
from 15-25 mm in length (Figs 1 and 2). They vary in
colour from shiny steelblue (P. dorsal is) to reddish brown
(Pergagrapta spp.), with both having yellow markings on
the head, body, and legs. The female, which is larger
than the male, has a saw-like apparatus (ovipositor)
beneath the abdomen which is used to cut the upper
surface of the leaf and push the eggs into the leaf tissue ]
(Fig. 1). The eggs are deposited along the midvein of the ~
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leaf and form a raised blister, or pod (Fig. 2). Each pod s:
'1J
contains about 60-70 eggs. Adults are found in both cocoons g
spring and autumn. The adults do not feed at all and in soil ~
i
ui
only live long enough (usually about a week) to find a ~

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host tree and lay eggs.
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The larvae pass through six stages which, in
Pergagrapta spp. lasts for three months and eight months Figure 2. Life cycle Perga d orsalis (insects actual size).
for P. dorsalis. The eucalypt sawfly larvae are caterpillar-
like, with three pairs of stout legs. They lack the abdominal
legs of most caterpillars, but all have a single sucker or
uropod on the tip of the tail (Fig. 2). Both P. dorsalis and
Pergagrapta spp. larvae have bodies covered with
numerous short bristles. In P. dorsal is the bodies are black
while Pergagrapta spp. range in colour from tan to dark
brown or black, although the colour can vary with the
host plant. The large mature larvae of P. dorsalis have
yellow legs and a large yellow uropod, while Pergagrapta
spp. tend to have a yellow/orange collar behind the
head, and less yellow on the legs and uropod. Fully
grown larvae range from 40-60 mm in length, depending
on the species, P. dorsalis being the largest.

P. dorsalis has only one generation per year and, as the

Figllre 3. YOllllg larvae all leaf.
larvae take eight months to complete their development,
they may be found throughout the year. Pergagrapta spp.
on the other hand can have two generations per year as
their larvae complete growth in only three months.
Pergagrapta spp. larvae are found in both spring and
autumn, with the autumn populations tending to be the
more numerous.

The larvae of all species are highly gregarious and remain

clustered together during the day. At night they spread
out through the top of the tree to feed. After hatching
from the pod, the young larvae cluster into a circular
mass on the surface of a single leaf (Fig. 3). These "leaf"
clusters feed together on the same leaf and point their
heads outwards, which may be a defensive posture
against predators and parasites. As the larvae grow the
clusters become larger and group on twigs, then finally
on the branches or trunks of trees (Fig. 4).
Figure 4. Mature larvae all twig.

When the larval clusters are disturbed, individuals wave

their abdomens around and regurgita te a thick yellowish
fluid from their mouths. This smells strongly of
eucalyptus and is used as a defence against predators.
Although often called "spitfires", the larvae cannot 'spit'
this fluid as is commonly believed and are harmless to
humans. Another defensive behaviour adopted by the
mature larvae is to drop to the ground when disturbed.

Fully grown larvae crawl to the ground and wander over

the surface together (Fig. 5) until they find a suitable
place to pupate, usually near the baseofa tree. They then
burrow into the soil and form barrel-shaped cocoons,
constructed from cemented earth, piled together in rows
(Fig. 2). The emergence of adult wasps from the cocoons
can extend over a long period, with wasps from the same
group of larvae emerging up to one to two years later. Figure 5. Matllre larvae all groulld.

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 DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGE . are not killed until they pupate. Although adult
Damage is caused only by the larval stages. Young populations are small, enough larvae still hatch to cause
larvae feed only op. one surface of the leaf. Older larvae significant damage to a tree. The larvae are also vulnerable
feed on the whole leaf, eating up from the tip of the leaf on and in the ground from reptiles and predatorybeetles,
and leaf margin, often only leaving the midrib. The It is possible to remove the larval clusters by hand when
mature larvae feed on different areas of foliage Elver the trees are small, However, this may not always be
successive nights until the ·entire 'Upper crown is practical in plantations.
defoliated. It is usually at this stage that the presence of
thelarvae is neticed, as obvious larval clusters, After the As with any insect pest, the e.arlier they are found and
upper crown has been defoliated, the larvae eat the controlled, the less damage they ate likely to Cal,ise. The'
foliage on the side branches. In heavy infestations, the early stages of sawfl'ies are usually $mall and
larvae move down the tree, eating until they are fully inconspicuous and it will be up to the observer I grower
.. grown or the tree is ·def0liated, to learn to spot the early signs of damage, s1.].ch as egg
pods or "leaf" duster.s of very small larvae. Small t:re~s,
If th~ sawflies an~ in lalig~ ,enough ntlmbers smaU trees " less thaR f01.].r metres high, cap..h) spta:ved if .it is not
.a:r~ at extreme rIsk., Large populations 6f p, il6rsalis anq ,
'pr~cfi~al toremQve and d,estr,oy larval Gluster~ l)y hand:
· somespeciesofpergagl:aptaaie,:kJ;J.6wntooGcurseasonallY·
and the' subsequent large dusters(sometifnes mbie·than' S· T. £1' t Cl C"'t Z' if: t' . " Z t" f . C.·-th
' .. " . .,., '. .'. '. .: .. , .. ".: '" .:: , :. ee Lel'l. e '-" onro oJ lnfieC son euca YP. s, .or Uti ~r
. ,200
.' mruv.lCluals)
" .. . alie likely.
. to
. .cause
. . total defoUatioI1 of,·
. , m . , fOl'ma
• 't"Ion mc
. 'I'd' : '1san
u lllg :·ch"emlca ' d",recommenl:.lel:!
. "':.J-l
· smalltrees. ThiS'may cause sfun~ing or e'v~:ti death, Fot' . ," .: :' :.', ;. . c . " . ; . . : , . . , . , .. ~ :' .
, ., '.. , . . ,'. . .,..' spraymg Ta:tes. . .. . ,'" "
· thisreasonisawflle$mttstbe,];egan;led.aspelJ).gpot~hti~l1y: :. ': ' ' ' .. ' . '
" . significant pests of pl?,ntafiG!rigrowttei;icalypts: : . . .
!, .' '. , '" • • '. , • . . • . : : ,·PUR'tHER',INFORMA')':10N .... "~ ',:.
;.: .'. CONtROL : :' : .: ' 'qa~Pb~ri, ~.J: (i~9~):: fu~ec~,~esis.~f ~arm:tte~s. :Fa~ :
I:, '" "" . , " ," :1)-~~$ Ne~:8;: NSW A~ku'ltur~'ancl-Fisheries, 16 Fp. .
I .Some bh-ds~ will e~t the "lar~ae, inciu.ding cwrawohgs" '. " . "
I andC:U~ko~~s1u:iKes,'butnlOStbirdsfindiherndist~stefuL 'StaJeFoie~ts 'of N:SW -(19.95); . '<::orl~ol bf insect~ on .
r
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rhe'larva~ ~re highlypa~asi~i~ed·bY:flies.irnd' wasps/but' eu~aIYJ?ts. 'Foi:estProtectio.n,' Series'l'{o, q1:.4' pp.. ;
.' " ,.'., . . .'. "

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State Forests of New South Wales
Copyright ©: State Forests of New South Wales 1995

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