Arge rustica - Oak Fusehorn

A local but widely distributed species in southern Britain, from Norfolk southwards, including south Wales. The species continues to be detected in recent years at low levels, although there was a drop in the number of records between the latest two decades (Musgrove, 2022). Arge rustica is a black species lacking any metallic sheen and dull in appearance. The apex of the marginal cell is darker than the rest of the wing. In the female, the first tergite is deeply divided to reveal a pale membranous patch and the apical margins of several other tergites are yellow centrally.

Larvae feed on oaks associated with larger old woodlands.

Jump to other Arge species

Jump to other Argidae

Size: 9 - 11mm.

IUCN Status: Vulnerable
GB Rarity Status: Nationally Rare

Distribution: England, Wales

Flight period: May to June

Plant associations: Quercus spp. Oaks (Lorenz and Kraus, 1957)

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

Lorenz, H. and Kraus M., 1957. Die Larvalsystematik der Blattwespen (Tenthredinoidea und Megalodontoidea). - Abhandlungen zur Larvalsystematik der Insekten No. 1. Berlin: Akadamie - Verlag

Musgrove, A.J. 2022. A review of the status of sawflies of Great Britain - Phase 1: families other than Tenthredinidae. Natural England, unpublished