Tenthredopsis coquebertii (Klug, 1817)

Tenthredopsis coqueberti

As with all Tenthredopsis species Tenthredopsis coqueberti is variable in colour. The description given here follows Blank and Ritzau 1998 but it should be noted that British specimens may differ in colour from continental counterparts.

In the female the middle area of the second tergite is significantly smoother and glossier than the third. The eye orbits and vertex are black or only slightly pale. The pronotum is black as is most of the mesoscutum. The abdomen is black but broadly red girdled on at least tergite three to six. The hypopygium resembles that of nassata.

The males also have tergite three more microsculptured that the middle of tergite two. Males can be distinguished by the lack a peripheral vein on the hind wing. Other species sometimes produce individuals with reduced peripheral veins. However, these can be distinguished by reference to the microsculpture of tergites 2 and 3. The penis valves have needle-like projections that are shorter than the hind femur inner apical spur.

Larvae feed on grasses.

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Size: 10 - 11mm

Status: Common

Distribution: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Flight period: May to July

Plant associations: Gramineae