Macrophya annulata 

Very widely recorded in England and Wales, particularly in the south-east, but the only Scottish record derives from Benson (1952) stating that the range extends north to Roxburghshire (Musgrove, 2023).

A black species normally with the abdomen girdled with red, although all black specimens occasionally occur. Although black, the front legs may be frosted white on the front face in certain light. This species is an effective spider-hunting wasp mimic both in appearance and behaviour and can often been found running around at ground level.

Benson states that in Britain Macrophya annulata feeds on Creeping Cinquefoil  and this is supported by ovipositing results using British stock. According to Macek, larvae feed on rose in the wild but will accept blackberry and creeping cinquefoil in captivity. Larvae develop very slowly taking several months to reach the final instar. 

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Size: 10 - 12.5mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales

Flight period: May to July

Plant associations: Potentilla reptans (creeping cinquefoil), Rosa (rose) and Rubus sp. (blackberry, etc.)  

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

Macek, J., 2012. About Macrophya parvula and larvae of several Central European Macrophya (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). Zootaxa, 3487(1), pp.65-76.

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 Natural England, unpublished