Caliroa cerasi

Recorded widely throughout much of mainland Britain to northern Scotland (Musgrove, 2023).

An mostly black insect. The third antennal segment about as long as the fourth and fifth combined. For the most part, the legs are black though the fore tarsi, and sometimes the mid tarsi, are paler. Males are very rare.

Caliroa cerasi larvae are mucus covered " slugworms" that feed initially on the upperside of leaves. Pear and cherry are preferred. They pupate in the ground and emerge after 2-3 weeks, or overwinter to emerge the following May.

Jump to other Caliroa species

Size: 4 - 6mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: Bivoltine, May to September

Plant associations: Polyphagous, especially on Pyrus spp. and Prunus spp. (various trees and shrubs esp. pears and cherries.)

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 Natural England, unpublished