Tenthredo livida

Tenthredo livida is a sawfly species belonging to the family Tenthredinidae (common sawflies), subfamily Tenthredininae.[1]

Tenthredo livida
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Tenthredinidae
Genus:	Tenthredo
Species:	T. livida
Binomial name
Tenthredo livida Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
Tenthredella livida (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe.[2] These sawflies mainly inhabit woodland rides, hedge rows and spruce forest edge.[3]

Description

The adults of Tenthredo livida are to 12–15 millimetres (0.47–0.59 in) long.[3] The thorax and head are black, with a large white mouth area and white tips on antennae. Forewings have a white and brown stigma. This species is rather variable in colour. The abdomen is usually black in females, orange-reddish in males.[4]

Biology

Adults can be encountered from May through August feeding on small insects and on nectar and pollen of flowers, especially of Apiaceae species (Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium).[3]

The larvae are polyphagous and are nocturnal grazers,[4] feeding on leaves of a variety of plants (mainly Rosaceae, Betulaceae and Salicaceae species, but also on bracken species).[3][5]

Gallery

• 
  T. livida, female
• 
  T. livida, female

References

1. Biolib
2. Fauna europaea
3. J.K. Lindsey - Commanster.eu
4. Nature Spot
5. Encyclopedia of life

• Magis N. (2003): Notes faunistiques sur les espèces du genre Tenthredo Linné, 1758 sensu lato dans la région Franco-rhénane (Hymenoptera Symphyta : Tenthredinidae, Tenthredininae), Notes fauniques de Gembloux, n° 53 [as Tenthredella livida (Linné, 1758)]