Athalia liberta

All the tibiae are ringed apically with black and the thorax is orangy on the sides and ventrally. Athalia liberta males cannot be distinguished from Athalia cornubiae. In females the hypopygium is not deeply incised either side of the middle.

Larvae feed on hedge garlic, hairy bittercress and hedge mustard.

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Size: 5-7mm

Status: Uncommon but widespread

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to August

Plant associations: Alliaria petiolata, Cardamine hirsuta and Sisymbrium officinale (hedge garlic, hairy bittercress and hedge mustard)

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

References:

Balmer, D. and Balmer, J.P. 2015. Keys of species of Athalia in France and Italy, Flickr. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/d-jp-balmer/7996272718/in/photolist-9Ztf2g-dbAZi1-d8W2FW-9Zdz6n/] Accessed 16Apr2019

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