Phymatocera

Globally, there are 13 species distributed across the holarctic region. In Britain the genus is represented by one species. The genus is absent from Ireland.

The three genera Paracharactus, Rhadinoceraea and Phymatocera are difficult to separate by morphological features. However, Phymatocera can be distinguished with some confidence by the presence of a prepectus, the absence of any post-genal carina and by the tarsal claws having an inner tooth.

Larvae feed on members of the Asparagaceae family.

Species list:

Phymatocera aterrima (Klug, 1816)

References:

Altenhofer, E. & Pschorn-Walcher, H. 2003: Biologische Notizen über die Blattwespen-Gattungen Metallus Forbes, Monostegia A. Costa und Phymatocera Dahlbom (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). - Linzer biologische Beiträge, Linz 35(1): 405-417

Benson, R.B., 1952. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Vol 6, Section 2(a-c), Royal Entomological Society, London

Benson, R. B. 1953: The northward spread of the solomon's seal sawfly (Phymatocera aterrima Klug) (Hym., Tenthredinidae). - The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, Fourth Series, London 89(14): 63

Chapman, T. A. 1915: The egg-laying of Phymatocera aterrima Klug. - The Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation, London 27: 145-149

Chapman, T. A. 1917: The larvae of Rhadinoceraea micans Klug and of Phymatocera aterrima Klug. - The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, Third Series, London 53: 224-229.

Chevin, H. & Silvestre de Sacy, R. 2001: La tenthrède du sceau de salomon, Phymatocera aterrima (Hym. Symphyta, Tenthredinidae, Blennocampinae). - Bulletin des Naturalistes des Yvelines, Versailles ser. 5, 28(4): 106-110

Goulet, H. 1981: Distinguishing external features of adult males and females of North American species of Phymatocera Dahlbom (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) and their phylogeny. - The Canadian Entomologist, Ottawa 113(9): 801-806

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

Togashi, I., 2004. Description of a new species of the genus Phymatocera Dahlbom (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) from Japan. Biogeography: international journal of biogeography, phylogeny, taxonomy, ecology, biodiversity, evolution, and conservation biology, 6, pp.49-51.