Urocerus augur

Introduced into Britain and Ireland. Now thought to be breeding in Britain after a female was observed ovipositing into western hemlock. Very similar to the common Urocerus gigas, but the yellow behind the eyes is more extensive and the hind tibia black in at least the apical half. In the female the ovipositor is longer being about as long as the forewing.

Urocerus augur larvae feed in the timber of coniferous trees and take 2 to 3 years to mature.

Jump to other Urocerus species

Size: 12 - 40mm

Status: Established in Ireland and possibly Channel Islands

Distribution: England, Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands

Flight period: June to October

Plant associations: Pinaceae (coniferous trees) (1) including...

Abies alba (European silver-fir) (3)
Abies cilicica (Cilician fir) (3)
Abies procera (noble fir) (3)
Picea abies (Norway spruce) (3)
Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) (3)
Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock-spruce) (pers. comms.)

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

References:

1. Benson, R.B., 1952. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Vol 6, Section 2(a-c), Royal Entomological Society, London

2. 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

3. Liston, A. D. 1995: Compendium of European Sawflies. List of species, modern nomenclature, distribution, foodplants, identification literature. - Gottfrieding, Chalastos Forestry : 1-190

4. Schiff, N.M., Goulet, H., Smith, D.R., Boudreault, C., Wilson, A.D. and Scheffler, B.E., 2012. Siricidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Siricoidea) of the western hemisphere. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 21: 1-305, 21, pp.1-305.