Hoplocampa flava - Flame Plum-borer

North to southern Scotland, more sparsely distributed than many others in this genus. Can sometimes be a pest of cultivated plums, although data pertaining to horticultural pests is generally poorly collected and unavailable (Musgrove, 2024).

The only one of the Prunus associated species that has the upper side of the abdomen predominantly orangey (though it may be black marked). The stigma is darker at the base than the apex and the forewings have a fuscous band under the stigma. The forewing is clear towards the apex and yellowish at the base. The hind tarsus is shorter than the tibia. The males have distinctive penis valves with long curled tails.

Hoplocampa flava larvae feed in the fruits of wild and cultivated plums.

Jump to other species of Hoplocampa

Size: 3.5 to 5.5mm

GB IUCN status: Least Concern
GB rarity status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: April to May

Plant associations: Prunus spp. (wild and cultivated plums)

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

Liston, A., Prous, M. and Vårdal, H., 2019. A review of west palaearctic Hoplocampa species, focussing on Sweden (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae). Zootaxa, 4615(1), pp.1-45.

Musgrove, A.J. 2024. A review of the status of sawflies of Great Britain - Phase 3: The Tenthredinidae (subfamily Nematinae). Natural England, unpublished