Pristiphora brevis - Cryptic Meadow Rue Sawyer
Pristiphora rufipes group

Recorded locally south-east of a line between Yorkshire and Wiltshire. Perhaps one of the most habitat-restricted species of the genus, requiring wet fenland habitat. Assessment of older records somewhat complicated by taxonomic issues, but any 'thalictri' from southern wetland habitats have been assumed to refer to this species. Prous et al. (2017) note that species limits remain somewhat unclear (Musgrove, 2024).

The species separations in the rufipes group are unclear. One of two species in Britain and Ireland that feed on meadow-rue, the other being thalictri. The species are predominantly black bodied. Females of species in this group all have a distinct scopa on the apex of the sawsheath. Males and females of brevis and thalictri cannot be separated other than by DNA analysis at this time.

Pristiphora brevis larvae feed on Common Meadow Rue.

Jump to other species of Pristiphora

Size: 4.5 - 5.5mm

GB IUCN status: Near Threatened
GB rarity status: Nationally Rare

Distribution: England, Ireland

Flight period: Assumed May to August

Plant associations: Thalictrum flavum (Common meadow-rue)

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 Natural England, unpublished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, 59