Arge expansa
One of the black species. Considered by some to be a subspecies of Arge fuscipes. However, there does seem to be good separation of the characteristics between the two. Arge expansa is thought to be a cooler climate species and is more likely to be encountered in north and central Scotland and Ireland. Females can be separated from Arge fuscipes by a pale costa and subcosta (dark in fuscipes) and in males the hind tibia are white at the base (entirely black in fuscipes).
Larvae feed on birch and willow.
Status: unknown
Distribution: Scotland, Ireland
Flight period: June to July
Plant associations: Betula spp. (birches) (5) and Salix spp. (willows) (5,4)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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References:
1. Benson, R.B., 1952. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Vol 6, Section 2(a-c), Royal Entomological Society, London
2. Lacourt J. Hymenoptera of Europe 2. Sawflies of Europe. NAP Editions; 2020.
3. Lindqvist, E. 1973: Taxonomische Bemerkungen über einige Blattwespen I (Hymenoptera, Symphyta). - Notulae Entomologicae, Helsingfors 53: 33-39
4. 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
5. Muche, W. H. 1977: Die Argidae von Europa, Vorderasien und Nordafrika (mit Ausnahme der Gattung Aprosthema) (Hymenoptera, Symphyta). - Entomologische Abhandlungen. Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde in Dresden , Leipzig 41, Supplement: 23-59.