Empria fletcheri
A seemingly rare northern species, with just seven records to date between Sutherland and Glasgow (Musgrove, 2023).
A black sawfly with pairs of white patches on tergites 2 to 6 (or 7). The labrum, hind margin of pronotum are white. The tegulae are also marked with white. The clypeus is strongly punctured and with a large central tooth. Antennae about 2.5 times the breadth of the head. Claws with a small subbasal tooth (check all legs). The stigma is brown. In the female, the apical tergites are red-brown.
Empria fletcheri larvae feed on birches, especially Downy Birch and Dwarf Birch.
Size: 6 - 7mm
GB IUCN Status: Data Deficient
GB Rarity Status: Nationally Rare
Distribution: Scotland
Flight period: May to June
Plant associations: Birches, especially Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) and Dwarf Birch (Betula nana).
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 Natural England, unpublished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.
Prous, M. 2012: Taxonomy and phylogeny of the sawfly genus Empria (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae). - Dissertationes Biologicae Universitatis Tartuensis, Tartu 222: 192 pp.