Description

Body length 10mm. This is the commonest of three very similar species of sawfly. They are mainly green with a black dorsal mark and black markings on the head. The fore-wing has a bright green stigma. R. viridis has a thin black line on the side of the thorax, but R. chlorosoma may show a weaker version of this too. R. punctulata has black spots along the sides of the black dorsal mark.

Habitat

Low vegetation where the adults hunt small insects. The larvae feed on the leaves of a variety of plants.

Status and distribution

R. viridis is common and widespread in Britain, R. chlorosoma is restricted more to the south and west and R. punctulata is widely distributed but scarce. R. chlorosoma is common in Nottinghamshire and at Netherfield Lagoons.

Best time to see

May to July.