Environment/ Habitat

 The Cimbex americana (common name Elm Sawfly) is native to North America where terrestrial and deciduous forests are found.  More specifically, the Elm Sawfly is found westward to northern Texas, from Newfoundland to Florida, and northward to British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska (Barnes 2010).  The sawfly is also found at altitudes from 0 to 4,181 meters (0 to 13,717 feet) (Arnett 1985).

Map displaying preferred sawfly habitat in North America. The dark gray areas show the presence of sawflies.

 
The adult and Elm Sawfly larvae live in deciduous forests in which the larvae hatch from their eggs that are deposited from the adult female on the leaves of maples, aspens, elms, birch, willows, and basswoods in order to obtain proper nutrients and to fulfill their lifecycles on the same trees. Both the adult and larva of the Elm Sawfly remain reproducing and feeding on these trees for the remainder of their life (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1974).