Macrophya montana
This species has black stigma and the base of the femur in both sexes is yellow and black at the apex. The abdomen of the female differs from that of the male. In the female, the fifth and sixth tergites have broad lateral yellow flashes and the ninth is yellow on the dorsal face. In the male, the abdomen is black, but the legs are distinctively coloured with the front four entirely pale yellow and the hind legs entirely black with white feet. Adults often visit umbellifers, especially hogweed, an sometimes in large numbers.
Larvae feed on dewberry and similar members of the blackberry family.
Size: 9 - 11mm
Status: Locally common
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales
Flight period: May to June in the south, August to September in northern Scotland
Plant associations: Rubus caesius, etc. (dewberry, etc.)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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- Macrophya montana female Credit Andrew Green
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- Macrophya montana female Credit Andrew Green
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- Macrophya montana female Credit Andrew Green
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- Macrophya montana male Credit Andrew Green
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- Macrophya montana male Credit Andrew Green
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- Macrophya montana male Credit Andrew Green
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- Macrophya montana Credit Tim Worfolk
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