midimatt
Dogwood Sawfly (Macremphytus tarsatus) Larva on Wooden Rail
Location: Eisenbahn State Trail, Barton, Wisconsin
It took me a while to identify this larva, initially thinking it was that of some type of moth. A fellow at Butterflies and Moths of North America pointed me in the sawfly direction.
Sawfly larvae look very much like butterfly or moth caterpillars. There are a few differences, one being that a butterfly/moth caterpillar will never have more than five pair of abdominal prolegs, whereas the sawfly will always have six or more pair. This subject, which is in its late larval stage, appears to have seven pair of abdominal prolegs.
Dogwood Sawfly (Macremphytus tarsatus) Larva on Wooden Rail
Location: Eisenbahn State Trail, Barton, Wisconsin
It took me a while to identify this larva, initially thinking it was that of some type of moth. A fellow at Butterflies and Moths of North America pointed me in the sawfly direction.
Sawfly larvae look very much like butterfly or moth caterpillars. There are a few differences, one being that a butterfly/moth caterpillar will never have more than five pair of abdominal prolegs, whereas the sawfly will always have six or more pair. This subject, which is in its late larval stage, appears to have seven pair of abdominal prolegs.