Pristiphora subopaca - Shady Sawyer
Pristiphora ruficornis group

North to northern Scotland. Quite frequently recorded, suggesting that this species has increased in the intervening decades since Benson (1958) who was only able to list five records (Musgrove, 2024).

This species cannot always be distinguished by morphology from Pristiphora confusa. Males are best determined by examination of the penis valves. Determination of the females, is best done by examination of the saw where the apical serrulae are arguably less protruding and longer than in confusa.

Pristiphora subopaca larvae feed on goat 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, Scotland

Flight period: Assumed May to June

Plant associations: Salix caprea and Salix phylicifolia (goat 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 Natural England, unpublished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, p.1.