Sirex areolatus
Native to North America and probably only found in Britain when emerging from imported timber. Adult have predominantly blue-black legs, head, and thorax. The female abdomen is wholly blue-black and in the male it is black only on the basal and apical abdominal segments, with the central tergites being red-brown. The wings are smoky to violaceous.
Sirex areolatus larvae feed in timber of various coniferous species for up to 3 years.
Size: Approx. 10 to 40mm
Status: Common
Distribution: England (not established)
Flight period: June to October
Plant associations: Pinaceae spp. (pines, cedars, junipers, firs, redwood)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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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