Tenthredo mioceras
A large Tenthredo with most of the upper surface black and most of the lower surface lime green. The stigma of the fore wing is black. Similar to Tenthredo mesomela. Both have green mesopleura with a subvertical black stripe. In mioceras the mesopleura has coriaceous sculpture all over and the hairs are silvery, whereas in mesomela the mesopleura is coriaceous above but shining below and the hairs on the head are fuscous. Also in mioceras the postocellar area is more rectangular with the front margin clearly longer than the side margins, whereas in mesomela the postocellar area is more squarish with the front margin only slightly longer than the side margin. Tenthredo mioceras is associated with upland moors.
The larvae feed on a broad range of plants.
Size: 9.5 - 12.5mm
Status: Local
Distribution: England, Scotland, Ireland
Flight period: June to July
Plant associations: Ranunculus (buttercups), Heracleum (hogweed), Senecio fuchsii (wood ragwort), Dryopteris (ferns), Atropa (nightshades)
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]