Small World Discoveries

HYMENOPTERA > SYMPHYTA > Tenthredinidae > Tenthredininae > Tenthredinini

The females of this black, yellow-banded species are remarkably similar in appearance to some mason wasps, which has resulted in the occasionally used common name of Noble Wasp-Sawfly. The yellow bands are located across the hind margins of abdomen segments S1, S4, S5 and S7. The forewings have a clearly defined dark blotch beyond the stigma and the tegulae (wing bases) are a brown or a reddish-yellow colour at least at the edges. The antennae are black, but with the two basal segments in the female being reddish-yellow. Body length is around 12mm and both the head and thorax are densely punctured. The femora are dark and the tibia are reddish, which together with the dark wing bases and much duller head capsule help separate the females from Tenthredo omissa and Tenthredo thompsoni.

Tenthredo vespa is a scarce species of southern Britain that may be seen visiting umbellifer flowers from May through to September. The larvae feed on a broad range of shrubs and trees.