Rhogogaster chlorosoma
Frequently encountered though probably not as common as Rhogogaster viridis. This species is very similar to viridis. It is generally less black marked on the abdomen but pale viridis specimens overlap with dark chlorosoma species. Males of the two species can be determined by the length of the plantar lobes (tarsal pulvilli) on the hind tarsi. In chlorosoma males the plantar lobe of one tarsal segment is about one-half the length of the following tarsal segment. In viridis, it is one-third. In females, there is some crossover in this characteristic.
The black markings on the top of the head form an enclosed figure-of-eight.
Larvae are recorded from a broad range of trees and herbs including alders, poplars, willows, rowans and meadowsweet.
Size: 10 - 13mm
Status: Common
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales
Flight period: May to July
Plant associations: Polyphagous. Alnus spp., Populus spp., Salix spp., Sorbus spp. and Filipendula ulmaria (various trees and herbs)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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- Rhogogaster chlorosoma detail Credit Andrew Green
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- Rhogogaster chlorosoma detail 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
Taeger, A. and Viitasaari, M., 2015. European Rhogogaster s. str., with notes on several Asian species (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). Zootaxa, 4013(3), pp.369-398.