One Of The Most Widely Distributed Insect Pest Species Is A Mystery To The Public
Most people can name at least one type of insect pest species, as insect pests damage to crops and other forms of plant life are by no means uncommon. The most talked-about insect pests are usually the ones that damage crops and trees. For example, scientists have been struggling to control emerald ash borer populations in America. The emerald ash borer is not considered a pest in its native Asia, but after arriving in the United States, this insect became an invasive insect species capable of destroying trees more rapidly than most other insect pest species. There are not many groups of insect pests that are globally distributed; and similar to emerald ash borers, a particular insect pest in one region may not be considered a pest in another region. However, sawflies happen to be one group of insects that are distributed around the world, and they are categorized as insect pests in every region that they inhabit. Very few people have heard of sawflies, which is surprising considering how common they are. Sawflies also belong to one of the most well known insect orders–Hymenoptera. The Hymenoptera order of insects include bees, wasps and ants.
Most sawfly species are herbivores, and they get their name for their saw-shaped mouthparts. These mouthparts are used to cut slits into plant stems or leaves. Female sawflies then deposit their eggs into plants through these slits, keeping the eggs safe from predators. Not surprisingly, this process can cause significant damage to trees and smaller plants.
Sawflies are a large group of insects that comprise around eight thousand species. Around fifty five hundred of these species belong to the Tenthredinidae family. Researchers believe that sawflies are the oldest insects that belong to the Hymenoptera order. Sawflies date back two hundred and fifty million years, making them active during the Triassic period. This is why sawflies are one of the most diverse insect species in existence today. Also, many sawfly species are parthenogenetic, meaning females can reproduce asexually. This makes male sawflies a rarity, and some species may not even contain males at all anymore. Sawflies are not considered the most damaging of insect pests, but they are certainly one of the oldest and most widely distributed of all insect pests.
Have you ever spotted a sawfly during your lifetime? If you have, did the specimen possess a saw-like ovipositor?