Tenthredo schaefferi
One of a complex of four species: arcuata, brevicornis, notha, schaefferi. This species is rare. Males of the four species cannot always be reliably separated, though Taeger has produced a key to males on the continent. Females can be separated by the hind tibia being marked with reddish-brown apically. The black band on each tergite continues on the downturned portion. The broad yellow band on tergite one does not narrow at the lateral edges.
Larvae feed on vetches.
Size: approx. 10 - 13mm
Status: Very rare
Distribution: England
Flight period: July to August
Plant associations: Vicia cracca (tufted vetch)
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