Elm Sawfly

Natural Habitat

Found in deciduous forests, woodlands, and urban areas containing host trees across North America.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on plant sap by girdling twigs of host trees; larvae eat the leaves of elm, willow, birch, maple, and poplar.

Behavior Patterns

They are solitary insects. Adults are active in early summer; despite their wasp-like appearance, they do not have a stinger. Females use a saw-like organ to lay eggs in leaf tissue. Larvae often curl into a spiral when resting.

Risks & Benefits

They are generally harmless to humans as they cannot sting. While they can cause minor defoliation of trees, they rarely cause significant ecological damage and serve as a food source for birds and small mammals.

Identified on: 4/12/2026