Anoplonyx destructor - Larch Destroyer

North to northern Scotland. Widespread in larch plantations throughout Britain, at times apparently causing significant economic damage. Although not native to Britain (as the foodplant is not), the species was first described from British specimens, before being identified more widely from other countries (Musgrove, 2024).

Adults are similar to Pristiphora laricis but the anal cell of the fore wing in Anoplonyx destructor has a basal loop (absent in P. laricis). Black with more or less brown mouthparts and labrum. White on the hind margin of the pronotum, tegulae, trochanters, apices of femora, tibiae and tarsi.

Larvae feed on larches, sometimes in large numbers.

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Size: 5 - 6.5mm

GB IUCN Status: Least concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to June

Plant associations: Larix decidua and Larix leptolepis (European larch and Japenese larch)

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

References:

Benson, R. B. 1952: A new Anoplonyx destructive to larch in Britain (Hymenoptera; Tenthredinidae). - Bulletin of Entomological Research, London 43: 543- 547

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. 2024. A review of the status of sawflies of Great Britain - Phase 3: The Tenthredinidae (subfamily Nematinae). Natural England, unpublished