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Cimbicidae – Large Sawflies

Cimbicidae are among the largest sawflies in Europe. Adults are robust, often brown or black, with clubbed or pectinate antennae that are characteristic of the group. Their larvae resemble large caterpillars, often green or spotted, living in groups on the leaves of deciduous trees such as hazel or willow. Their appearance may be surprising, but these insects are harmless to humans. They are typically seen in spring and summer. Their simple biology, large size, and larval mimicry make them easy to observe and photograph.

5 April 2025 · 1 min · 152 words · Damien Théraulaz | Translations:

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Table of Contents

Characteristics
Habitat
Biology
Representative Genera
Distinctive Features

Characteristics

Massive and stout body, usually black or brown
Short antennae, often pectinate or club-shaped
Slow, sometimes noisy flight
Broad wings with complete venation
No wasp waist (symphyta group)

Habitat

Cimbicidae are found in:

Forest edges
Gardens, hedgerows, and wooded parks
Deciduous forests (especially where poplars, willows, birches are present)

Biology

Phytophagous larvae living openly on leaves
Often bear dark dorsal spots
Some larvae are gregarious early in development, then become solitary
Univoltine cycle (one generation per year), adults visible in spring or summer

Representative Genera

Cimbex – Very large species, larvae found on deciduous trees such as willow or poplar
Trichiosoma – Hairy-bodied, adults resemble bumblebees, larvae on birch or rowan
Abia – Smaller, active on honeysuckle or elder

Distinctive Features

Adults sometimes mistaken for bumblebees in flight
Larvae may cause localized defoliation, though rarely of concern
Family easily distinguished from other sawflies by their size, morphology, and pectinate antennae

Cimbicidae