Steel-blue sawflies
Alternative name/s:
Spitfires
Spitfires
Click to enlarge image
Steel-blue sawfly larva, spitfires. They live in urban areas, forests and woodlands.
Image: Unknown
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Perga
- Subfamily
- Perginae
- Family
- Pergidae
- Super Family
- Tenthredinoidea
- Suborder
- Symphyta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 4 mm - 18 mm
Steel-blue Sawfly larvae are also known as 'spitfires' as they can eject an irritating fluid from their mouth. This defense method ensures predators avoid them, enabling them to reach high numbers.
Habitat
The Steel-blue Sawfly lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands.
Distribution
The Steel-blue Sawfly is found in south-eastern Australia.
This map shows species occurrence observations from data recorded in the Atlas of Living Australia.
Feeding and diet
Steel-blue Sawfly larvae in the Sydney area feed on eucalypts.
Human interactions
Economic impacts
The Steel-blue Sawfly can sometimes cause extensive damage to trees.
