Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What insect is this? > Trees and shrubs > Flies, moths, wasps,and other insects with obvious wings - 3/4 inch and longer > Elm sawfly

Elm sawfly

Cimbex americana

Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org

Description: 3/4 - 1 inch long. A black head and thorax with orange on the antennae, head, and legs with a blue black abdomen with a small white spot on the upper section of the abdomen (the female has four or five yellowish spots along the side of the abdomen). It has smoky colored wings.

Where/When: Associated primarily with willow and elm but can occasionally found on alder, basswood, birch, maple and poplar. Present from early spring to early summer.

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