Dolerus vestigialis

Recorded widely across all of mainland Britain and can be locally numerous (Musgrove, 2023).

Formerly in the genus Loderus as indicated by white or white tinged tegulae. The mesopleura are dull and rough with the middle covered in crater-like punctures that adjoin to give a honeycomb appearance. The body is normally black but the prothorax and abdomen may be more or less marked with red. Femurs and most of tibia red. Note that in some Scottish and Irish examples the legs are more or less entirely infuscate and the red may be restricted to only the front knees.

Dolerus vestigialis larvae feed on horsetails in wet habitats.

Jump to other Dolerus species

Size: 7 - 9mm 

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to June

Plant associations: Equisitum sp. (horsetail - wet habitat species)

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 Natural England, unpublished