Caliroa varipes

A black insect. The third antennal segment clearly shorter than the fourth and fifth combined. Hind tibia yellow-brown basally. Hind tarsus may be weakly yellow-brown basally. Middle tibia marked with yellow-brown on the external face in males and basally in females.On the hind wing, the females have two enclosed cells, whilst the males have none but possess a peripheral vein.

Caliroa varipes larvae are mucus covered " slugworms" that feed on the leaves of various trees. They pupate in the ground.

Jump to other Caliroa species

Size: 4 - 6mm

Status: Local

Distribution: England, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: Bivoltine, May to June and August

Plant associations: Populus spp., Salix spp., Betula spp., and Quercus spp. (poplars, willows, birches and oaks.)

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

Lacourt, J. (2002). Révision des Caliroa Costa ouest-paléarctiques (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae). - Revue française d'Entomologie, (N. S.), Paris 24(3): 125-131

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