Pamphilius albopictus - Ivory Spinner

This species was overlooked as British for a long time. Two specimens taken by Harwood near Aviemore in 1944 were previously determined as P. vafer, until Shinohara (1998) reidentified them during a review. A further specimen was photographed in Co Durham in 2021. The foodplant is very widespread in Britain especially in the north (Musgrove, 2022).

Males are unknown. Females are mottled black and ivory-yellow. Thorax is black with yellow and ivory mottling. Wing venation is mostly brown but the costa and subcosta are yellowish. Stigma is light brown. Added to the British list in 1998.

Pamphilius albopictus larvae feed singly on Bird Cherry leaves which are rolled downwards parallel to the mid-vein.

Jump to other Pamphiliidae

Size: 7 - 10mm

GB IUCN Status: Data Deficient
GB Rarity Status: Nationally Rare

Distribution: England, Scotland

Flight period: June to July

Plant associations: Prunus padus (Bird Cherry).

The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)

References:

Kangas, E. and Kangas, J. K. 1963. Die Larve von Pamphilius albopictus Thoms. (Hym., Pamphiliidae). - Annales Entomologici Fennici, Helsinki 29: 267-269

Kangas, E. and Kangas, J. K. 1965: Weitere biologische Beobachtungen und Neubeschreibungen der Larve von Pamphilius albopictus Thoms. (Hym., Pamphiliidae). - Annales Entomologici Fennici, Helsinki 31: 31-37

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. 2022. A review of the status of sawflies of Great Britain - Phase 1: families other than Tenthredinidae. Natural England, unpublished

Viitasaari, M. ed., 2002. Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta), I: a review of the suborder, the Western Palaearctic taxa of Xyeloidea and Pamphilioidea. Tremex Press.