Lophyrotoma larvae seen at home
Workbook
Pterygophorinae larvae seen at home
All of these larvae seen at home have been feeding on Eucalyptus globoidea, which means it must be a Lophyrotoma sp. as there are no reports of Pterygophorus spp. feeding on eucalypts (Schmidt, 2006).
The only Lophyrotoma spp. sighted at home are L. interrupta and L. cyanea. The following larvae are likely to be the latter as they lack the red colouration of the thorax, present in L. interrupta.
January-February 2023 “Deck bush”
8 January 2023
Around 25 Pterygophorinae larvae (probably Lophyrotoma sp.) spotted feeding in cluster of leaves in Eucalyptus globoidea bush resprouting basally from a burnt sapling in front of the house deck.
13-18 January 2023
2 February - 2 March 2023
February 2023
2 February 2023 10:28pm
Five larvae seen feeding on a leaf on a epicormic branch of Eucalyptus globoidea tree with a broken trunk in driveway, near new water tank
4 February 2023 9:47am
3 larvae on one leaf, another 2 on nearby leaf
8 February 2023 12:43pm
2 larvae on one leaf, another 3 on nearby leaf
10 February 2023 9:12am
4 larvae on one leaf, another on nearby leaf
12 February 2023 11:11am
3 larvae found - on one leaf. moved them inside to the cage, placed the branch on which they were found in a jar of water with a lid with holes
14 February 2023 9:52am
Only one larva remaining, with its exuvia from a recent moult nearby. Is this a prepupa?
Other 2 larvae were found drowned in water in the jar holding the vegetation, having crawled through a hole in the lid.
One of these was placed in a tube of 100% ethanol and transferred to collection #PW017
January-February 2026
Tracing development of a clutch of 14 Pterygophorinae larvae feeding on leaves of an epicormic branch of E. globoidea on Lot 6 track, near junction with wombat track.
23 January 2026 6:55pm - first sighting by Kerri
24 January 2026 9:37pm
30 January 2026 1:00pm
20 February 2026
only six larvae present - in two groups of 3 on leaves on widely separated stems
21 February 2026
larvae can no longer be found.
References:
Schmidt, S. (2006) Checklist of the Pergidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) of Australasia In Blank, S., Schmidt, S. & Taeger, A. (eds), Recent Sawfly Research: Synthesis and Prospects. Goecke & Evers, Keltern, pp. 627-634.
This is a workbook page … a part of our website where we record the observations and references used in making species identifications. The notes will not necessarily be complete. They are a record for our own use, but we are happy to share this information with others.