Alder Sawfly - Eriocampa ovata

Size 10mm. The adult sawfly has a black head and abdomen and dark orange thorax

Around Alder trees

May to August

The larvae are up to 2 cm long and covered in a white powdery substance. They camouflage themselves as bird droppings. The white powdery substance is easily rubbed off and in the final instar, when feeding is finished, the white powder is lost and the larva adopts a pale green appearance. There are two generations each year.

Most records come from the south of Britain.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.