Tenthredo olivacea

A Tenthredo species that looks very similar to the Rhogogaster genus. It can be distinguished by having a head and mesonotum coriaceous and evenly covered in short stiff black hairs. In Rhogogaster species these are shining with sparse pale hairs. The green colour on Tenthredo olivacea is a more drab olive rather than the vibrant green of Rhogogaster though it would be unwise to make a determination on this basis alone. The stigma and costa is green. The black markings on the upper head have the appearance of a capital "H" taking in the two broad parallel side stripes that extend to the back of the head and a central transverse band taking in the hind ocelli.

Larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants including buttercups, plantains, speedwells and chickweeds.

Jump to other species of Tenthredo

Size: 9 - 12mm

Status: Widespread

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales

Flight period: May to July

Plant associations: Ranunculus (buttercups), Plantago (plantains), Veronica (speedwells), Myosotis (chickweeds)

The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)

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]