Dolerus pratorum

Very seldom recorded, with Benson (1952) aware of just three records, and only four more having come to light since at time of writing. These have been distributed across southern England and just into south Wales (Musgrove, 2023).

A small species. Labrum, and usually also clypeus, tinged brown. The mesopleura are dull and rough, with a few large, widely spaced, crater-like punctures in the middle. Abdomen usually red-girdled and legs red or dark.

Dolerus pratorum larvae are unknown but presumed to feed on horsetails.

Jump to other Dolerus species

Size: 6-7mm

GB IUCN Status: Endangered
GB Rarity Status: Nationally Rare

Distribution: England, Wales

Flight period: May to June

Plant associations: Equisetum sp? (possibly horsetails)

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 Natural England, unpublished