Eutomostethus punctatus - Pitted Sedge-cutter

Recorded rather locally though much of mainland Britain north to central Scotland, although absent from much of the east of England (Musgrove, 2023).

Body entirely black with pale tibiae on the front legs. The hind margin of the temples are punctured as is the scutellum posteriorly at the sides. Hind wing with an enclosed middle cell.

Eutomostethus punctatus larvae feed on greater-tussock sedge.

Jump to other Eutomostethus species

Size: 5 - 7mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales

Flight period: Univoltine, May to July

Plant associations: Carex paniculata (greater-tussock sedge)

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

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 Natural England, unpublished

Macek, J. (2014) ‘Descriptions of larvae of the Central European Eutomostethus species (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Tenthredinidae)’, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 54(2), pp. 685–692.