Pristiphora ruficornis - Redhorn Birch Sawyer
Pristiphora ruficornis group

North to northern Scotland, recorded reasonably frequently (Musgrove, 2024). 

This species is similar to Pristiphora melanocarpa but ruficornis has paler antennae at least ventrally. Males are best determined by examination of the penis valves. Determination of the females, is best done by examination of the saw which has setae on the six apical segments.

Pristiphora ruficornis larvae feed on downy birch.

Jump to other species of Pristiphora

Size: 4.0 - 5.5mm

GB IUCN status: Least Concern
GB rarity status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to July

Plant associations: Betula pubescens (downy 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 Natural England, unpublished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, 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