Dolerus asper
Dolerus asper has recently been split to separate our Dolerus brevicornis. Males can readily be identified by the penis valve shape and the time of year. In females, the setae on dorsolateral edge of pronotum are as long as or longer than the diameter of an ocellus and the clypeus is more or less asymmetrical with the emargination approximately one half as deep as its median length. The hairs on the top of the head in both species are shorter than the diameter of an ocellus. See Heidemaa et al for key to separate the two.
Dolerus asper larvae feed on sedges and grasses.
Status: Widely distributed?
Distribution: England, Scotland, (possibly Wales and Ireland)
Flight period: April to June
Plant associations: Cyperaceae (Carex, etc.) and Graminaceae (sedges and grasses)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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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
Heidemaa, M.I.K.K., Nuorteva, M., Hantula, J. and Saarma, U., 2004. Dolerus asper Zaddach, 1859 and Dolerus brevicornis Zaddach, 1859 (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), with notes on their phylogeny. European Journal of Entomology, 101(4), pp.637-650