Athalia scutellariae - Skullcap Tigress
More local than many other Athalia species but still recorded widely across most of Britain (Musgrove, 2023).
The only Athalia 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 of Athalia scutellariae feed primarily on skullcap in wet places. Other foodplants include Gypsywort and Marsh Woundwort.
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
GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
Flight period: May to September
Plant associations: Scutellaria galericulata (Skullcap), Scutellaria minor (Lesser Skullcap), Lycopus europaeus (Gypsywort), Stachys palustris (Marsh Woundwort)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
- Athalia scutellariae female Credit Andrew Green
- Athalia scutellariae male Credit Andrew Green
- Athalia scutellariae male Credit Andrew Green
- Athalia scutellariae female Credit Andrew Green
- Athalia scutellariae eonymph Credit John A Petyt
- Athalia scutellariae larva Credit Andy Banthorpe
- Athalia scutellariae larva Credit Bex Cartwright
- Athalia scutellariae dentate claw Credit Andrew Green
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 Natural England, unpublished