Abia aenea
Very similar to the more frequently encountered Abia lonicerae. Both species share the same habitat and foodplants, but the larvae are apparently different in appearance. Adults cannot usually be determined from images but specimens can be determined by antennal shape and the surface of the mesonotum. The female of this species has more slender antennae (viewed side on) and both sexes have dense microsculpture between the punctures on the lateral faces of the mesonotum.
Larvae feed on honeysuckles and other members of the Caprifoliaceae.
Size: approx. 12mm
Status: unknown
Distribution: England
Flight period: April to June
Plant associations: Lonicera spp., Symphoricarpos spp. and Leycestria spp. (honeysuckles, snowberry and pheasantberry)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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- Abia aenea female
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- Abia aenea female
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- Abia aenea female
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- Abia aenea female
References:
Benson, R.B., 1952. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Vol 6, Section 2(a-c), Royal Entomological Society, London
Liston A, Knight G, Sheppard D, Broad G, Livermore L (2014) Checklist of British and Irish Hymenoptera - Sawflies, ‘Symphyta’. Biodiversity Data Journal 2: e1168. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.2.e1168
Hackston, M (2014) Family Cimbicidae: Key to the British species. https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeyshymenoptera/Home/hymenoptera/symphyta/superfamily-tenthredinoidea/family-cimbicidae [Accessed 25Apr2019]