Hmmm, Sawflies are seldom seen but they punch above their weight in the ecosystem.
There are over 7,000 species of Sawflies in the world including 700 or more in Canada. But unless you are specifically looking for one, you will likely not see a Sawfly. They are wee little critters that fly at foot level and crawl on leaves or grass most often escaping notice.
Sawflies are named after the saw-like appearance of the ovipositor – the organ at the end of insect’s abdomen used for depositing eggs – which the females use to cut into plants to lay their eggs.
What is so special about Sawflies?
Science tells us that Sawflies first appeared 250 million years ago which is a testament to their survival skills. They are distributed globally although they are more diverse in the northernmost hemispheres.
Sawflies have unique defensive adaptations to cope with predation. Some Sawfly larvae regurgitate a distasteful, irritating liquid when threatened. Some species cluster together in large groups with heads facing outward for protection. Others use social signals such as lifting their abdomens in unison to intimidate predators.
What do Sawflies look like?
Sawflies look like small, stout, non-stinging wasps or flies. They have a column-like or cigar-shaped body with four clear wings often folded over their backs. They range in colour from black to metallic green, blue, yellow or brown.
You will not notice these physical characteristics unless you photograph a Sawfly as they are miniature insects – a fraction of an inch in most cases.
How long do they live and where?
The larval stage can last from months to even years. But adult Sawflies have a very short life expectancy of two weeks or less. They live on or in various trees, shrubs and grasses with some species adapted to specific plants.
Where do they fit in the quilt of nature?
Sawflies play a vital ecological role as primary consumers and nutrient recyclers of plant materials. They help maintain flora balance by feeding on fast-growing shrub species which allow more light to reach slow-grower plants. They are also a primary food source for birds, wasps, lizards, frogs and small mammals like shrews and deer mice.
Sawflies are tiny creatures with a very big role to play in the ecosystem – one more fascinating patch in the quilt of nature stitched together by threads of interdependence and natural balance.
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