Ametastegia glabrata

Recorded widely across much of mainland Britain, as well as Orkney (Musgrove, 2023). 

Ametastegia glabrata is the only one in this genus with an all black body, including tegulae, and orange legs, excluding hind tarsi.

Larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants and overwinter by burrowing into willow or fruit of apples. Larvae of glabrata are similar to Ametastegia equiseti but do not have a black spot on the dorsum of the anal segment.

Jump to other Ametastegia species

Size: 5.5 - 8mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: bi- or multivoltine. April to September

Plant associations: Chenopodium spp. (fat hens), Polygonum spp. (redshanks), Rumex (docks) and Rheum (rhubarb), Plantago (plantains), Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) and Salix (willow).

The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)

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

Musgrove, A.J. 2023. A review of the status of sawflies of Great Britain - Phase 2: The Athaliidae and the Tenthredinidae (excluding Nematinae). Natural England, unpublished