Eucalypt Sawflies - Pambula Reserve

The larvae are often seen in clumps on stems. When disturbed, they raise their tails and regurgitate a yellowish fluid as a defensive mechanism. The adult sawfly is wasp-like in appearance and cannot sting, and is rarely observed. The larvae and the damage they cause are more commonly seen. They disperse and feed at night; damage to host trees is caused during the larval stage only. The adult stage does not feed. Larvae are usually restricted to a small number of trees within a plantation and will often defoliate whole individual trees. Native to Australia and widespread across eucalypt forests and plantations from temperate to subtropical zones. (Pergagrapta sp.)