Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tenthredo scrophulariae

Posted by AdrianBothe on 03-07-2019 11:40
#1

Dear all,

on 25th of May this year I found this Hymenoptera near a small channel in the north of Berlin ( Germany ).

Could one of you experts tell me which species it belongs to?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,
Adrian

Edited by AdrianBothe on 21-02-2022 19:57

Posted by Tony Irwin on 03-07-2019 13:19
#2

Tenthredo scrophulariae, the Figwort sawfly

Posted by AdrianBothe on 03-07-2019 20:01
#3

Thanks Tony, looks similar! Yet, on the pictures that I find online the yellow pattern on the abdomen forms a series of continuous rings. On my photo clearly the third one of the markings is only a lateral spot and not a whole ring.. Could it be another species?

Posted by Tony Irwin on 03-07-2019 21:47
#4

My understanding is that the yellow bands on the abdomen of this species are quite variable - they can be quite thick, or quite thin, so perhaps they can sometimes be broken in the middle as well (though I have yet to find a picture of one like yours). It does look as though it's sitting on a figwort leaf - not an entirely reliable character, but does support it being scrophulariae

Posted by Tony Irwin on 03-07-2019 21:52
#5

Looking more closely at your picture, I'm wondering whether this is a teratological specimen. The segment which has the spot appears to narrow off strongly to the right. Perhaps it had a developmental problem, leading to the odd pattern.

Posted by AdrianBothe on 04-07-2019 21:11
#6

Dear Tony, thanks for your interesting thoughts on the specimen - I think you might be right and it is a variation. Here I have another picture, does that specimen belong also to this species?

Edited by AdrianBothe on 21-02-2022 19:58