Rhogogaster scalaris
(NB. Naming follows Taeger and Viitasaari)

This species equates to Rhogogaster viridis in Benson's key. Some older records may be mis-assigned. Recorded widely throughout the whole of mainland Britain, as well as Orkney and the Hebrides; the most frequently recorded species of this genus (Musgrove, 2023).

Very similar to Rhogogaster chlorosoma. Generally this species is darker but there is crossover between lighter examples of scalaris and darker examples of chlorosoma. Males can be identified by the size of the plantar lobes (tarsal pulvilli) on the hind tarsi, however, in females there is overlap between the two species. In the male, the plantar lobe is about one-third the length of the next tarsal segment. In chlorosoma it is one-half the length.

The black marking on the top of the head is closed at the front to form a figure of eight. Usually the postocellar area is black with the black marks of the frons reaching to the occipital carina.

Rhogogaster scalaris larvae feed on a wide variety of trees and herbs.

Jump to other Rhogogaster species

Size: 10 - 13mm

GB IUCN Status: Least Concern
GB Rarity Status: None

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to July

Plant associations: Polyphagous Salix spp., Populus spp., Alnus spp., Betula spp., Epilobium spp., Quercus spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Vicia cracca. (various trees and herbs)

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. 2023. A review of the status of sawflies of Great Britain - Phase 2: The Athaliidae and the Tenthredinidae (excluding Nematinae). Natural England, unpublished

Taeger, A. and Viitasaari, M., 2015. European Rhogogaster s. str., with notes on several Asian species (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). Zootaxa, 4013(3), pp.369-398.