Nematus lucidus - Torpedo Sawfly

North to northern Scotland, one of the most frequently recorded species of Nematinae (Musgrove, 2024).  A recognisable elongate Nematus with a torpedo-shaped body. In both sexes the abdomen is dark with a red girdle. The mesonotum and mesopleura are dulled by heavy punctures and surface sculpture.

Nematus lucidus deposit ova singly into shallow cuts on the mid-vein of young leaves of hawthorn and blackthorn. The larvae have blunt cerci. The black surrounding the warts below the line of spiracles can coalesce into a single black spot on each segment in late instar larvae.

Jump to other Nematus species

Size: Female: 8 - 11mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: April to June

Plant associations: Crataegus spp. and Prunus spinosus (hawthorns and blackthorn)

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 Natural England, unpublished

Prous, M., Liston, A., Kramp, K., Savina, H., Vårdal, H. and Taeger, A., 2019. The West Palaearctic genera of Nematinae (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae). ZooKeys, 875, p.63-127