INSECTS

HYMENOPTERA / SAWFLIES

Saddleback Grass-cutter Eutomostethus ephippium (4-6mm) frequents meadows where its larvae feed on soft grasses. It flies from May to August and there may be two broods a year. The black legs have a pale band around the joint of the femora and tibia.  It is also known as the Black and Red Sawfly, however this species has two colour forms, the other version lacks red on the thorax and mesopleura and is mainly seen in northern England.

Common Green Sawfly Tenthredo mesomela is also known as the  Black-backed Sawfly. It is large (9-13mm) with a black back and an apple green body, flying from May to July. Its larvae feed on a wide range of plants. Very similar to Tenthredo mioceras.

Iris Sawfly Rhadinoceraea micans (7-8mm) is totally black and usually seen flying around Yellow Iris which is the larval foodplant. Phymatocera aterrima has a similar appearance, but has longer antennae and feeds on Solomon's seal.

Clover Sawfly Tenthredo arcuata  (8-11mm) is one of four species that are very similar in appearance so this specimen was treated as the aggregate  Tenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferi agg.  when recorded.  Larvae feed on Clover and Vetchling.

Three Periclista sawflies occur in Britain which feed mainly on oak. Identification of the individual larvae can usually be done by studying the spine arrangement at the tip of  the body.

Turnip Sawfly Athalia rosae (7-8mm) is fairly easy to identify, with its orange thorax, abdomen and legs contrasted with black head and 'shoulder pads'. This species is also known as the Turnip Tigress, Cabbage Leaf Sawfly and Beet Sawfly.

Sawfly Apethymus filiformis flies late in the year and overwinters as an egg. Its bluish larvae emerges in spring to feed on deciduous trees.

Willow Bean-galler Euura proxima is a small Sawfly (3-5mm) that causes Kidney Bean Galls to appear on narrow-leaved willows. Often there is more than one gall on a leaf. The galls are green becoming reddish.

Willow Gall Sawfly Eupontania pedunculi causes Hairy Pea Galls on the underside of Sallow leaves. A tiny circular shiny yellowish patch appears on the upper leaf surface which can be flush or very slightly raised.       

Large Rose Sawfly Arge pagana (7-9mm) is a common species in the southern England that flies from May to September. The pronotum, tegulae and parts of the legs are black and the wings appear smoky coloured. The larvae feed in groups on the young Dog-rose leaves. The hairs on the larval heads are normally pale, the supra-anal black mark is usually entire, and the lateral longitudinal rows of dots are aligned. This species is also known as the Common Rose Fusehorn.

Bronze Fusehorn Arge ustulata (7-10mm) flies from May to July. Its larvae feed on Hawthorn, Birch and Willow.

Social Pear Spinner Neurotoma saltuum has larvae that live and feed in large communal webs on woody members of Pear, Hawthorn, Blackthorn and other members of the Rosaceae family. The adults (m.9-12mm, f.10-14mm) fly in May and June. 

Flat Alder-cutter Platycampus luridiventris is a dark brown or blackish Sawfly (6-7mm) with orangy legs that flies in May and June. The flat green larvae feed on alder leaves making roundish holes in the surface.

Scabious Clubhorn Abia nitens (10mm) is a Sawfly that flies from May until August. Its larvae feed on Scabious and Cut-leaved Teasel.

Cryptic Clubhorn Abia aenea/lonicerae agg. (12mm) flies from April until June. Adults of A. aenea and A. lonicerae are very similar and often recorded as an aggregate. Adults of these species cannot normally be separated from photographs. The larvae of both species feed on Honeysuckle and Snowberry.

Pavid Willow Nematine Euura pavida (6-7mm) fly from May to June and July to September. Its larvae feed in groups on Sallow, Willow, Poplar and Alder. Formerly in the genus Nematus, but now Euura.

Red-belted Cleaver Aglaostigma aucupariae (7-9mm) is one of the first Sawflies to appear each spring. It flies from March to June. The larvae feed on Bedstraws.

Birch Sawfly Cimbex femoratus has green larvae with a white head. The larvae feed on birches.

Tenthredopsis

There are presently six British species of Tenthredopsis  (7-12mm) as far is presently known. Some species have colour variation within a gender and also dimorphism between the genders. All species inhabit grassland,  woodland edges and watercourses.

The larvae are nocturnal feeders on grass.