Pristiphora confusa - Confounding Sawyer
Pristiphora ruficornis group

Widespread south of the Tees, proving much more widespread than suggested in Benson (1958) where just two records were listed. Most records are recent, suggesting an increase (Musgrove, 2024).

Males are best determined by examination of the penis valve. Females are difficult to separate from Pristiphora armata, leucopus, opaca and subopaca requiring detailed examination of the saw. The apical serrulae are more protruding, but shorter, than in Pristiphora opaca and Pristiphora subopaca.

Pristiphora confusa larvae feed on Goat Willow, Crack Willow and Tea-leaved Willow.

Jump to other species of Pristiphora

Size: 4.5 - 5.5mm

GB IUCN status: Least Concern
GB rarity status: None

Distribution: England, Wales

Flight period: Assumed May to August

Plant associations: Salix caprea, Salix fragilis and salix phylicifolia (goat willow, crack willow and tea-leaved willow)

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 Natural England, unpublished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

Prous, M., Vikberg, V., Liston, A. and Kramp, K., 2016. North-western Palaearctic species of the Pristiphora ruficornis group (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 51