Diprionidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iConifer Sawflies
Neodiprion lecontei larvae
Neodiprion lecontei larvae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Symphyta
Superfamily: Tenthredinoidea
Family: Diprionidae
Genera and species

see text

The Diprionidae are a small family of conifer-feeding sawflies (thus the common name conifer sawflies, though other Symphyta feed on conifers) restricted to the Northern Hemisphere, with some 90 species in 11 genera worldwide. Larvae are often gregarious, and sometimes there can be major outbreaks, thus these wasps can be major forest pests at times.

The family is distinctive in having antennae with about 20 flagellomeres, and serrate or pectinate.