Dolerus puncticollis

Recorded widely across most of mainland Britain (Musgrove, 2023).

A black bodied species. The female has red knees on the hind legs. Similar to D. gonager. In puncticollis the setae either side of the sawsheath are directed outwards in dorsal view to form an obtuse angle (acute in gonager). In puncticollis (both sexes) the side lobes of the mesonotum are copiously punctured on the lateral faces (shiny with few punctures in gonager).

Larvae feed on grasses.

Jump to other Dolerus species

Size: 8-9mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to June

Plant associations: Gramineae (grasses)

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

Heidemaa, M. & Saarma, U. 2005: Phylogenetic relationships in Dolerus gibbosus species group and Dolerus varispinus complex (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) as inferred from molecular and morphological data, with revisory notes on D. varispinus complex. Unpublished manuscript

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 Natural England, unpublished