Figwort Sawfly - Tenthredo scrophulariae

One of the few sawflies that is distinctive and easily recognised in both its adult and larval stages. The adult is a large (10 mm or more) black and yellow striped wasp lookalike, but especially distinctive because it has bright orange antennae. The larvae are a dusty greyish white with black spots, and a generally creased appearance.

The black and yellow stripes also feature on sawflies in the Tenthredo arcuata group - but none of these have orange antennae.

Any habitat where Figwort plants are present.

Adults May to August

The larvae feed on Figwort plants and are usually seen in August and September. The adults are carnivores mainly, hunting small flies and other insects.

Widely distributed and fairly common with most British records coming from England.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.