Macrophya duodecimpunctata 

Recorded widely across much of mainland Britain, although only sparsely recorded in Scotland to date (Musgrove, 2023).

The female is very striking with its black and white body and orange wings with yellow stigma, costa and sub-costa. The wings in the male are pale brownish and the venation is dark (although the stigma is still yellow in the centre). The white on the male is much reduced but both sexes have white flecks on the lateral face of some of the apical tergites. This species is associated with marshy areas.

Macrophya duodecimpunctata larvae feed on various sedges and grasses in wet habitats.

Jump to other Macrophya species

Size: 10 - 12.5mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to July

Plant associations: Cyperaceae and Gramineae (sedges and grasses)

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 Natural England, unpublished