Macrophya albipuncta 

Benson (1952) only knew this species from Yorkshire northwards, but it has subsequently been found in southern England also. However, it appears to be generally uncommon and absent to date from Wales, southwest England and East Anglia (Musgrove, 2023).

One of the smaller, predominantly black, Macrophya species. This species has white marks on the sides of the apical margins of the tergites and the sternites. The stigma is pale-centred but with dark margins. The head is shining with sparse punctures. The eyes are green in life.

Macrophya albipuncta larvae are free feeding on crane's-bills.

Jump to other Macrophya species

Size: 6 - 8mm

GB IUCN Status: Least conceren
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland

Flight period: June

Plant associations: Geranium spp. (crane's-bills)

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 Natural England, unpublished