Stethomostus funereus

A seldom recorded species, noted on about 20 occasions to date, most recently from Somerset in 2014 (two tetrads) and Norfolk in 2022 (Musgrove, 2023).

A small black sawfly with smokey wings. The hind margin of the mesoscutellum and the prepectal sulcus are lined with large punctures. The legs are dark on the coxae, trochanters and bases of the femora. The apical apices of the femora (at least) and the entire tibiae and tarsi are yellow.

Stethomostus funereus larvae are unknown.

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Size: 5 - 6mm

Status: Near Threatened
Status: Nationally Rare

Distribution: England

Flight period: May to August

Plant associations: Unknown

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 Natural England, unpublished