Strongylogaster xanthocera
Males apparently more frequent than females. Females have at least the first three segments yellow. The anal cells of the fore wing lack a cross-vein. The labrum is black. The sawsheath of the female is divergent at the apex. In the male the abdomen has the first tergite black right to the lateral margins and usually with at least the second tergite black also. The remainder are orange-red.
Larvae feed on bracken.
Size: 8 - 11mm
Status: Local
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales
Flight period: May to June
Plant associations: Pteridium aquilinum (bracken)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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- Strongylogaster xanthosoma male Credit Andy Musgrove
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
Macek, J., 2010. Taxonomy, distribution and biology of selected European Dinax, Strongylogaster and Taxonus species (Hymenoptera: Symphyta). Acta Entomologica Musei Natioalis Pragae, 50(1).