Euura vittata (Serville, 1823)

EUURA PUNICEA GROUP

Euura vittata - Striped Willow Nematine

Nematus vittatus Serville, 1823
Amauronematus pseudofasciatus Lindqvist, 1969
Amauronematus trautmanni Enslin, 1919
Amauronematus lateralis Konow, 1895
Amauronematus cameroni Perkins, 1929
Amauronematus piliserra Lindqvist, 1943
Amauronematus vittatus (Serville, 1823)
Amauronematus konowi Enslin, 1915
Amauronematus crispus Benson, 1948
Euura pseudofasciata (Lindqvist, 1969)
Euura trautmanni (Enslin, 1919)
Euura lateralis Konow, 1896

North to northern Scotland. The two forms, feeding on Salix repens (the former Amauronematus crispus) and Salix caprea (the former Amauronematus trautmanni) are considered conspecific. Many of the records of crispus are from sites with extensive sand dunes (Musgrove, 2024).

A species that is very variable in colour. In the female, the top of the head, the mesopleura and mesonotum are reddish-brown whilst the lower part of the face, the pronotum and the underside of the abdomen are green (all marked with black) fading to yellow. The sawsheath viewed from above is slightly emarginate each side of the middle.

The male has the inner orbits and most of the sternites infuscated. Mesopleura dull.

Euura vittata larvae feed on creeping and other willows.

Size: Female: 6.0 - 7.0mm, male: 5.0 - 6.0mm.

GB IUCN status: Least Concern
GB rarity status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: April to June

Plant associations: Salix spp. incl Salix repens and Salix caprea (willows incl. Creeping Willow and Goat Willow)