Dolerus eversmanni

Recorded widely across Britain, although records are sparse in Scotland. Observations have declined in recent years (Musgrove, 2023).

A mostly black species with red, if present, restricted to front tibia and apex of femur. Males have a white membranous patch covering the middle of tergites 5 and 6. In the female the sawsheath narrows to a point in dorsal view and has a feeble hook below in lateral view.

Dolerus eversmanni larvae feed on horsetails in wet areas. 

Jump to other Dolerus species

Size: 9 - 10mm

GB IUCN Status: Near Threatened
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: April to June

Plant associations: Equisetum sp. (horsetails - wet habitat species)

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 Natural England, unpublished