SYMPHYTA (sawflies)

Lab. techniques

The saw is often needed to confirm identification of female sawflies. As it becomes quite brittle when dry it is best everted when fresh.

This can be quite tricky. The specimen should be temporarily pinned on its back and the saw can then be rotated upwards by 90° from between the two valves of the saw sheath. A mounted micropin (perhaps with a hooked tip) and/or very fine forceps are needed. Once it pops out it can be encouraged to stay by gently pressing at the base (in the crook of the "elbow"). The specimen can then be pinned in the normal orientation and left to dry with the saw pressing gently against the plastazote.

Sets of Photographs

These relate to individual finds ("biological records") of the organism.

Taxon	Summary				Date	Vice-county	Country

Symphyta	Prepupa, male imago	18	3	15	1 Oct 2005	Berks	England
Symphyta	Female imago	9	6	3	28 May 2008	South-west Yorkshire	England
Symphyta	larva	8		8	25 May 2006	Berks	England
Symphyta	Larva	7	7		18 Jul 2007	Merioneth	Wales
Symphyta?	Female imago	4	4		22 Jun 2008	Oxon	England
Symphyta	Female imago	4	4		19 Jun 2005	Berks	England
Symphyta	Larva, prepupa	3	3		2 Oct 2005	Berks	England
Symphyta	Male imago	3	3		28 May 2005	Berks	England
Symphyta	larva	1	1		28 Sep 2005	Berks	England
Symphyta	Female imago	1	1		3 Jun 2005	Berks	England

Subtaxa

Rank	Taxon

Superfamily	CEPHOIDEA (a superfamily of sawflies)					1
Superfamily	MEGALODONTOIDEA (a superfamily of sawflies)	1	11			1
Superfamily	ORUSSOIDEA (a superfamily of sawflies)					1
Superfamily	SIRICOIDEA (woodwasps)	1	18	8		2
Superfamily	TENTHREDINOIDEA (a superfamily of sawflies)	48	234	196	7	22
Superfamily	XYELOIDEA (a superfamily of sawflies)					2

Suggested Literature

Identification Works

Sawflies discussion group: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/sawfly/join	Sawflies discussion group
Benson, R.B., 1952	Hymenoptera: 2. Symphyta. Section (b)
Berland, L., 1947	Hyménoptères Tenthredoïdes
Cameron, P., 1892	A Monograph of the British Phytophagous Hymenoptera (Tenthredo, Sirex And Cynips, Linne.)
Sheppard, D.A., in prep.	Introduction to Sawflies (Draft)
Wright, A., 1990	British Sawflies: a key to the adults of genera occurring in Britain
on cherry trees
Leather, S.R. & Bland, K.P., 1999	Insects on cherry trees
Plant galls
British Galls: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/british_galls/join	British Galls