Nettle Root Weevil vs Mountain Ash Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Nettle Root Weevil | Mountain Ash Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phyllobius virideaeris | Pristiphora geniculata |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Curculionidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Hedgerows | Mountains |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Nettle Root Weevil
A bright green-scaled weevil found on nettles and other vegetation in spring. Extremely common but the scales wear off with age revealing black cuticle. Adults chew leaf edges.
Did You Know?
Fresh specimens are brilliant metallic green, but old worn individuals look like completely different black beetles.
Mountain Ash Sawfly
A small blackish sawfly with pale legs whose green larvae can completely defoliate mountain ash (rowan) trees. Larvae have dark heads and feed gregariously.
Did You Know?
Introduced to North America in the early 1900s, it quickly became the most damaging pest of ornamental mountain ash trees across the continent.