Tenthredo brevicornis
One of a complex of four species: arcuata, brevicornis, notha, schaefferi. Males of the four species cannot always be reliably separated, though Taeger has produced a key to males on the continent. Tenthredo notha and schaeferri can be separated from arcuata and brevicornis by the yellow band on tergite 1 which broadens laterally and continues down onto the lateral face. Tenthredo arcuata and brevicornis females can be distinguished by the shape of the saw teeth. In brevicornis the saw teeth are sharp and pointed. However, in old specimens the saw teeth may become blunted and ressemble arcuata.
The larvae of Tenthredo brevicornis feed on bird's-foot trefoil.
Size: approx. 9 - 11mm
Status: Common
Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
Flight period: Uni- or bivoltine, June to September
Plant associations: Lotus corniculatus (Bird's-foot Trefoil)
The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)
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- Tenthredo arcuata brevicornis male agg
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- Tenthredo arcuata brevicornis male agg
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- Tenthredo brevicornis larva Credit John Grearson
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- Tenthredo brevicornis penis valve (pair in cop) 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
Fekete, K. (2018) Beginner’s guide to identifying British Tenthredo, Natural History Museum, London. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/content/dam/nhmwww/take-part/identification-trainers/sawflies-guide-id-trainees.pdf [Accessed 26Apr2019]
Taeger, A., (1988) Dritter Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Blattwespengattung Tenthredo L. (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Tenthredinidae), Beitr. Ent., Berlin