Peach Sawfly – Pamphilius persicus

Peach Sawfly – Pamphilius persicus  Common Name: Peach Sawfly Latin Name: Pamphilius persicus Appearance:  The adult Peach Sawfly has a thin body with a black head, thorax, and wings. The wings are mostly transparent with unique dark veins. They have a tiny waist, characteristic of the Hymenoptera order, which includes ants, bees, and wasps. Host Plants:  As the name implies, peach sawflies mostly infest stone fruit plants linked to peach trees (Prunus persica), including apricot and plum trees. These trees’ leaves provide food for the larvae. Territory:  The Peach Sawfly is native to parts of Asia, especially Iran, where it is widely distributed. It is, nonetheless, also found in other regions of the world when appropriate host plants are present. Damages caused by Peach Sawfly: The most damaging stage of the fly is the larval stage. Larvae feed in clusters on the leaves of peach trees, producing skeletonized patterns on the leaves. While a tiny infestation might not do much damage, large infestations can weaken the tree and impact its general health and fruit output. Life History and Habits: Egg: The women of the Peach Sawfly put their eggs on the undersides of leaves. The eggs are tiny and white at first, but as they grow, they turn darker. Larva: The most damage is done during the juvenile stage. They start light green with blackheads, but as they grow, they get darker. They eat the leaves like crazy, making unique patterns with skeletonized bodies. Pupa: The larvae fall to the ground and pupate in the dirt after eating for a while. Pupation is the step of change between being a caterpillar and an adult. Adult: The Peach Sawfly adult is a minor, thin bug that has a unique look. They have two sets of wings, but they need help to fly. The main goal of the adult stage is to reproduce. The Peach Sawfly larvae eat in groups, which can do a lot of damage to the leaves of the target plant. The adults usually come out in the spring or early summer after becoming pupae and don’t stay alive for long. Most of the time, the Peach Sawfly’s life cycle happens simultaneously with the target plants’ growth! During the warmer months, when leaves are easy to find, the larvae are busy.