Dolerus nigratus

Recorded widely across all of mainland Britain, as well as Orkney (Musgrove, 2023).

A large, black species. In females the long setae on each side of the sawsheath tip are almost straight. The cenchri are white and closer together than 1.5 times their own width. In males, tergite 8 has a triangular membranous area that reaches forward to at least the middle of the tergite. The mesonotum in both sexes is densely punctured throughout.

Dolerus nigratus larvae feed on grasses. They are yellow to grey-brown with a yellow head. The head lacks any brow or vertex bar markings. The thoracic legs each have a dark stripe at their base. The prolegs lack any dark markings.

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Size: 9-10.5mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: April to June

Plant associations: Graminaceae (grasses)

The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)

References:

Barker, A.M., 1998. The identification of larvae of eight graminivorous species of the sawfly genus Dolerus Panzer 1801 (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) regularly found in grass and cereal fields in southern England. Journal of natural history, 32(8), pp.1181-1215.

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 Natural England, unpublished