Elm Sawfly

Natural Habitat

Found in deciduous forests, parks, and residential areas near host trees like elm, willow, birch, and maple across North America.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on the sap of host trees by gnawing into the bark of twigs; larvae eat the leaves of deciduous trees.

Behavior Patterns

Active in late spring and early summer; females use a saw-like ovipositor to slit leaves and deposit eggs. They are solitary and do not form colonies or hives.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans; while they look like large wasps, they do not have a defensive sting. Larvae can cause minor defoliation to host trees, but rarely cause significant damage.

Identified on: 6/6/2026