Hainault Forest
HYMENOPTERA
Small Tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
TQ4793 05/05/2022 ©Raymond Small

Saddleback Grass-cutter

Eutomostethus ephippium


This species (4-6mm) frequents meadows where its larvae feed on soft grasses. It flies from May to August and there may be two broods a year. The black legs have a pale band around the joint of the femora and tibia. It is also known as the Black and Red Sawfly, however this species has two colour forms, the other version lacks red on the thorax and mesopleura and is mainly seen in northern England.

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