Fenella nigrita

Benson (1952) was not aware of this occurring north of Nottinghamshire, but it is now widespread north to Edinburgh, suggesting a range expansion may have occurred (Musgrove, 2023).

Fenella nigrita has short antennae (less than 1.5 times the breadth of the head) with 11 to 12 segments. The ratio of the length of antennal segment three to four is about 1.6 to 1.0. Vein M is evenly curved in the basal one-third but not so strongly as to appear angular. Black bodied with a pale labrum and pale knees, tibiae and tarsi.

Larvae mine the leaves of cinquefoils and agrimony.

Jump to other Fenella species

Size: 2 - 3mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: Bivoltine May to June and August to October

Plant associations: Potentilla reptans, Potentilla grandiflora and Agrimonia eupatoria (creeping cinquefoil, large flowered potentilla and common agrimony)

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 Natural England, unpublished