Larva id identification please

[RayDel]

Hi Can anyone give me an id of this larva please. It was seen in Sutton Park Birmingham on 10/7/21. Thanks for contributing.

[Allan.W.]

Hello Raydel,
It looks like a Sawfly larvae of some description ,possibly Birch . Regards Allan.W.

[RayDel]

Hi Allen,
Thanks very much for the reply. I've checked out sawflies on Google, the lavae I say was very similar. This explains why I couldn't find it on moth and butterfly sites. May I ask what features on the larvae helped you to identify it?

[Allan.W.]

Hello Raydel ,
Just the general "look " of the larvae ,plus the head shape ,and layout of the legs ....................................this probably doesn,t help too much !
Regards Allan.W.

[downland boy]

Sawfly larvae usually have more than four pairs of prolegs. There is also usually a black spot on each compound eye. Also the breathing openings along the side of the body can look more like gills than spiracles in some species.

Downland boy.

[RayDel]

Hello Downland boy,

Many thanks for your very informative reply.