Athalia scutellariae
The only species in Britain and Ireland with dentate claws. Each claw has a single tooth about one third of the way along. The mesonotum is normally black but may be tinted orange at the margins and on the scutellum. In the specimens examined, both males and females are orange on the lateral and ventral surfaces of the thorax marked with black on the mesepimeron and metapleuron (ie in the sides of the thorax beneath the wings). May also have some infuscation to the upper, front surface of the mesepisternum. All tibia usually ringed apically in black, although this may be reduced to almost imperceivable infuscation on the front and middle tibia, especially in males.
Larvae feed on skullcap in wet places.
It should be noted that Athalia species have a tendency to fly in multi-species aggregations and presence of the foodplant alone is not sufficient for identification.
Size: 4.5-6mm
Status: Locally common
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
Flight period: May to September
Plant associations: Scutellaria sp. (skullcap)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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- Athalia scutellariae female Credit Andrew Green
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- Athalia scutellariae male Credit Andrew Green
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- Athalia scutellariae male Credit Andrew Green
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- Athalia scutellariae female Credit Andrew Green
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- Athalia scutellariae larva Credit Andy Banthorpe
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- Athalia scutellariae larva Credit Bex Cartwright
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
Palmer, D. and Palmer, 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