Empria liturata
A black sawfly with pairs of white patches on tergites 2 to 5. Claws simple or sometimes with a tiny inner tooth. Antennal segment 8 is less than 3 times as long as broad. Front of clypeus only shallowly incised and with the outer teeth rounded apically. Tegulae usually black. Frontal furrow of the head reaches from ocelli to the antennae.
Note that in Benson's key, he states that Empria liturata male genitalia is as per tridens. However, this is incorrect (Prous, M. pers. comms.).
Empria liturata larvae feed on strawberries and avens.
Size: 5.5 - 7mm
Status: Common
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
Flight period: May to June
Plant associations: Fragaria spp., and Geum spp. (strawberries and avens)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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- Empria liturata penis valve (conf. Prous) Credit Andrew Green
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
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.