Ametastegia perla
A rare species, with scattered records across England and just single records from Scotland and Wales at time of writing (Musgrove, 2023).
In Ametastegia perla the abdomen is marked with black above and yellow below. In the female the tergites are black with a median row of triangular yellow patches that broaden apically. In the male the yellow extends across the entire apical margin of each tergite so that the black is broken into a series of lateral spots.
Larvae feed on redshank, osiers and poplars.
Jump to other Ametastegia species
Size: 5 - 6mm
GB IUCN Status: Near Threatened
GB Rarity Status: None
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
Flight period: June
Plant associations: Polygonum persicaria (redshank), Salix viminalis (osier) and Populus spp. (poplars)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
-
- Ametastegia perla female Credit Ian Andrews
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 Natural England, unpublished