Wildlife Review 2023: Sawflies

Sawflies are a sub-order of the order Hymenoptera (along with ants, wasps and bees). They cut open plant tissue to lay eggs. Many species are specific to a food plant and feeding larvae and leaf mines can aid identification. The sub-orders are split into families with Argidae (fuse-horned sawflies) and the larger family; Tenthredinidae (common sawflies) present on site. A total of 30 species were identified this year, including nine new for the Recording Area.

The first fuse-horned sawfly to appear was also new for site; Rose Sawfly Arge ochropus on 3rd May, followed by the Bramble Sawfly A. cyanocrocea on 16th and a second new species A. melanochra on 17th. The other of these similar black and orange species recorded was Large Rose Sawfly A. pagana started to appear from 29th July.

Bramble Sawfly Arge cyanocrocea - Alan Keatley

The first of the Tenthredinidae was Fenella nigrita on 6th March identified by leaf mines on Creeping Cinquefoil. Aglaostigma aucupariae, appeared on 13th April, and new for site, Halidamia affinis was found on 27th April, both feeding on bedstraws.

Aglaostigma aucupariae - Alan Keatley

A willow sawfly Euura bridgmanii was recorded on 7th May, with two new species that week; Iris Sawfly Rhadinoceraea micans on 7th and a Hawthorn sawfly Hoplocampa crataegi on 13th. An Alder sawfly Eriocampa ovata was recorded on 15th. New for site and recognised by its larvae, the Orange Pine Sawfly Neodiprion sertifer was found on one of the few Scots Pine seedlings on 18th.

Orange Pine Sawfly Neodiprion sertifer - Alan Keatley

The first of many Turnip Sawfly Anthalis rosae were on the wing from 25th. On 30th another new species was recorded, a fern sawfly Aneugmenus coronatus. Also, on the 30th appeared the first signs of the Rose Leaf-rolling Sawfly Blennocampa phyllocolpa.

Nematus lucidus - Kevin Rylands

Into June, the hairy gall of a willow sawfly Euura pedunculi, the leaf mine of an oak sawfly Profenusa pymaea, and an adult Common Tenthredopsis T. nassata were all found on 3rd. The mines of a Sycamore sawfly Heterarthrus fiora and the larvae of the new for site Nematus lucidus on Blackthorn were recorded on 11th. The colourful green and black adult Rhogogaster scalaris was active on 12th and another new species, a horsetail sawfly Dolerus aericeps were on the wing on 17th . 

Rhogogaster scalaris - Alan Keatley

Feeding signs of Hemichroa australis were found on birch and alder from 9th July with adults later in the year, and Fenusa pumila mines were in birch on 16th. Into August, larvae of the Oak Slug Sawfly Caliroa annulipes on 10th and leafmines in birch of Fenusella nana and Scolioneura betuleti on 12th. The last new species for the audit this year was the Skullcap Sawfly Athalia scutellariae on 13th, with the mines of Fenusa dohrnii also on 13th. Also mining Alder, Heterarthrus vagans was found on 9th September.

Hemichora australis - Alan Keatley