Empria alpina
Discovered as new to science in 1932 in Perthshire, there were no further records until one in 2012 from a Malaise trap in the mountains west of Loch Ness. Both records were from low montane scrub. There is insufficient knowledge of this species to date to categorise it as anything other than Data Deficient.
This is an arctic-alpine species and confined to the northern uplands. Eyes smaller than all other Empria species: in dorsal view as long as the head behind the eye. Mostly a black insect with brownish-white on the labrum, margin of the pronotum and the edge of the tegulae. The margin of the clypeus is also often off-white. Pairs of pale patches are present on tergites 2 to 7 in the female and tergites 2 to 5 or 6 in the male. The ratio of the length of the flagellum, along with genitalia characteristics, are important for identification in this group. See Prous et al, 2011.
Empria alpina larvae feed on Mountain Avens and are associated with low montane scrub.
Size: 5.5 - 6mm
GB IUCN Status: Data Deficient
GB Rarity Status: Nationally Rare
Distribution: Scotland, Ireland
Flight period: June
Plant associations: Dryas octopetala (mountain avens)
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
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 Natural England, unpublished
Prous, Marko & Heidemaa, Mikk & Soon, Villu. (2011). Empria longicornis species group: Taxonomic revision with notes on phylogeny and ecology (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae). Zootaxa. 2756. 1-39. 10.11646/zootaxa.2756.1.1.