Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems - Grains ...

Hymenoptera: Cephidae
Wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus) and
European wheat stem sawfly (Cephus pygmeus)
BIOSECURITY THREAT
Distinguishing characteristics/description
larva
pupa
adult
10 mm 20 30
both species
both species
both species
Wheat stem sawfly
Strong head with
strong mouthparts
Thread-like
(filiform)
antennae
Two sets of
wings. Brown for
wheat stem sawfly.
Clear with brown veins for
European wheat
stem sawfly
Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems Identification Manual and Education Resource © 2012
Sawflies are wasps and not flies.
Larvae are legless (although European wheat stem
sawfly has three pairs of reduced thoracic legs) with a
head capsule and prominent mouthparts. They have
a horn-like projection at the rear end of the abdomen
(tubercule). Newly hatched larvae look transparent with
tan-brown head regions.
82
Colouration can
vary between the
sexes and between
populations
Yellowish legs
SECTION 4 COMMON Pest, Beneficial and exotic Species
Narrow bodies, shiny
black in colour with
prominent bright
yellow bands across
the abdomen
Sawflies undergo 2-3 moults and darken to a whitishyellow-green
colour when mature.
These species go through one generation per year and
larvae overwinter in underground stems. Pupae are
white and become darkened before adult emergence.
Pupation occurs within a cocoon inside the stem near
the roots or crown of the plant. Adults emerge in spring.