Pristiphora rufipes - Columbine Sawfly
Pristiphora rufipes group
Widespread north to Yorkshire, as well as a handful of Scottish records. There has been a major increase since it was first discovered in 1946, and likely to be present on both wild and cultivated Aquilegia (Musgrove, 2024).
The species separations in the rufipes group are unclear. Only this Pristiphora species in Britain and Ireland feeds on columbine. 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 the rufipes group cannot be separated other than by food plant and DNA analysis at this time.
Pristiphora rufipes larvae feed on columbines. Eggs are laid into the margins of the leaves. Larvae feed from the leaf edge and there may be several feeding on a leaf, though they do not feed communally.
In captivity the larvae weave a dark cocoon between leaves or in the substrate and adults emerge after approximately two weeks.
Jump to other species of Pristiphora
Size: 4.5 - 5.5mm
GB IUCN status: Least Concern
GB rarity status: None
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales
Flight period: Multivoltine, May to September
Plant associations: Aquilegia vulgaris and Aquilegia olympica (columbines)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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- Pristiphora rufipes female Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes female Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes female ovipositing Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes male Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes male Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes penis valve Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes pronymph Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes pronymph Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes late instar larva Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes late instar larva Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes late instar larva Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes Credit John Grearson
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- Pristiphora rufipes (final instar) larva head and thoracic detail Credit John Grearson
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- Pristiphora rufipes late instar larva Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes middle instar larva Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes early instar larva Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes late instar larva Credit Andrew Green
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- Pristiphora rufipes first instar larva Credit Andrew Green
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