Pristiphora borea - Dwarf Birch Sawyer
Pristiphora carinata group

Only known from four locations in the Scottish Highlands, although it did prove reasonably common during surveys of the Dundreggan estate in 2011-12. Whilst likely to be present more widely, the foodplant is somewhat limited in Britain (only 98 hectads between 2000 and 2019 according to Plant Atlas 2020) (Musgrove, 2024).

The hind femur is mainly brown. The clypeus is more or less emarginate medially. The female is best determined by the characteristics of the saw. Males are best determined by the penis valve.

Pristiphora borea larvae feed on dwarf birch.

Jump to other species of Pristiphora

Size: 5.5 - 7.5mm

GB IUCN status: Data Deficient
GB rarity status: Nationally Rare

Distribution: Scotland

Flight period: May to July

Plant associations: Betula nana (dwarf birch)

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 Natural England, unpublished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., Kramp, K., Vikberg, V. and Liston, A., 2017. north-Western Palaearctic species of Pristiphora (hymenoptera, tenthredinidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, Vol. 59