The social pear sawfly has orange caterpillar-like larvae that feed on leaves in groups within webbing on pears, hawthorn and cherries. Not a common insect it can be treated as part of garden biodiversity.
Sawflies are in the same group of insects as bees, ants and wasps (the Hymenoptera). They have caterpillar-like larvae that feed on plants, the adults are winged insects that can appear fly-like. More than 500 species of sawfly occur in Britain, you can find out more about these insects from British and Irish Sawflies.
Social pear sawfly has orange caterpillar-like larvae that reach 25 mm (1 in) in length. The larvae feed on leaves in groups within webbing which can cover entire branches. Most often seen on pear, it will also feed on hawthorn, cherry, medlar, plum and cotoneaster. Hawthorn and cotoneaster can also be affected by caterpillars of the hawthorn webber and porphyry knothorn moth, these have small brown caterpillars and also produce webbing.
The adult is a 14 mm (½ in) long black winged insect.
Social pear sawfly is rarely abundant and the presence of this insect can be treated as part of the biodiversity a healthy garden supports as it doesn't impact the health of host trees.
Big Garden Sawfly Survey British and Irish sawflies information on social pear sawfly
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