The present study aimed to reveal the species, their densities, distribution and short life cycles of wheat stem sawflies in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey. Adult sawfly samplings were conducted in areas of cereal cultivation in four provinces: Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Mardin, and Şanlıurfa in 2014-2015. One hundred sweep net samples were taken from each wheat field during the adult flight period of sawflies in order to determine the species, their densities and distribution of the wheat stem sawflies. Life cycle studies were done in nature and immature stages of sawflies were also determined.

Three species of wheat stem sawflies, Cephus pygmeus (Linnaeus, 1767), Trachelus tabidus (Fabricius, 1775) and T. libanensis (Andre, 1881), were recorded in cereal fields. The most widespread species was C. pygmeus (77.1% and 63.9% in 2014 and 2015, respectively) and the most narrowly distributed was T. tabidus (22.9% and 36.1% in 2014 and 2015, respectively). While the highest number of adults was determined in Diyarbakır Province (mean 44.15 adults / field), the lowest number was determined in Adıyaman Province (mean 5.73 adults / field). Cephus pygmeus adults emerged at the end of March in Mardin and at the beginning of April in Diyarbakır, Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa Provinces. After adult emergence, the females fed mainly on wild mustard plants (Sinapis arvensis L.) to obtain nutrition. Eggs and newly emerged first instar larvae appeared in May and larvae in diapause were found in cut stubs in the middle of June.