Pristiphora retusa (Thomson, 1871)

Pristiphora retusa - Bird-cherry Sawyer
Pristiphora retusa group

Noted only from Speyside in 1934 and 1952 and Ullapool in 1958 (Benson 1941a, 1954a, 1959). Whilst it seems likely that this species is widely overlooked, the absence of any further records is noteworthy. The foodplant is widespread, although there is perhaps an interesting parallel with Pamphilius albopictus, the only other British sawfly species known to be restricted to Bird Cherry, also known only from old Speyside records until one was noted in Co Durham in 2021 (Musgrove 2022). Bird Cherry is widespread across Britain, so targeted effort further south might also pay dividends (Musgrove, 2024).

The labrum is asymmetric with a protruding tongue on the right-hand apical margin. Males are rare and can be distinguished by the penis valves. In the female, the stigma is usually white in the middle and basally with dark edges though the whole stigma may be sordid. The sawsheath is narrow, being only three times the width of the cerci. The colour is mainly black with yellow on the mouthparts, pronotal margin, tegulae and some apical abdominal segments laterally.

Pristiphora retusa larvae feed on bird cherry making circular holes within the leaf blade.

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Size: 3.0 - 4.0mm

GB IUCN status: Data Deficient
GB rarity status: Unclear

Distribution: Scotland

Flight period: April to June

Plant associations: Punus padus (bird cherry)