Athalia lugens - Shady Tigress

Recorded widely across all of mainland Britain except northernmost Scotland (Musgrove, 2023).

Athalia lugens has all tibia ringed apically with black but with darkening on at least the hind tibiae and tarsi. In paler specimens, at least two thirds of the length of the hind tibiae is lightly infuscate and in darker examples all tibiae and tarsi may be entirely dark on the outer face. The entire scutum is black but the pronotum, sides and underside of the thorax are orangy.

Larvae feed on cruciferous plants and are more frequent in damp places.

Jump to other Athalia species

Size: 5-6mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to September

Plant associations: Cruciferae including Lepidium (Pepperworts), Raphanus (Radishes), Sinapis (Mustards)

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

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 Natural England, unpublished