Small World Discoveries

HYMENOPTERA > SYMPHYTA > Tenthredinidae > Athaliinae

Although this is a widespread and regularly recorded species, it cannot be reliably identified from photos as there are a couple of distinguishing features that can only be properly assessed from close examination. However, from the general appearance; the abdomen is orange; the thorax is black on top with the underside having a variable black band that may be visible and extensive, or barely noticeable; middle tibia maybe ringed with black apically, but the fore tibiae are always entirely yellow. Other features relate to the respective length of the inner tibial spur of the hind leg, the clypeus having a sub-truncate lower edge and the female saw having shallow teeth.

The larvae feed on a wide range of herbaceous perennial plants such as ground ivy, plantains and speedwells that are typically growing in wet or damp areas. The adults can be found from May to October and, I presume, are most likely to be seen reasonably close to the larval breeding areas.

I photographed the individual featured below in a boggy area of heathland that I rarely visit, which was interesting, because when I checked the records for Dorset (VC9) I found a few that had been reported from heathland sites, including a couple from Hartland Moor.

New species added, Feb.25 (v.1)