Tenthredo mandibularis
Tenthredo mandibularis is a common sawfly, but adults are rarely seen. This species is black with some yellow lining on the back. The back however is very difficult to see, for usually the animal keeps its wings folded over the body. Identification is easy though, for it is the only species which has the front and middle legs almost completely red and entirely black hind legs. Like other Tenthredo species adults are hunters. They usually hunt for smaller insects on the flowers of umbellars.
The larvae look like caterpillars and are more often seen than the adults are. The underside is white, the upperside is grey or black (rarely blue) with yellow dots on either side. Two host plants are known for this species: Colt?s foot(Tussilago farfara) and Common Butterbur (Petasites hybridus). Both the larvae and the adults can be seen from June to October.
Tenthredo mandibularis is a common species all over the British Isles, except for Ireland where it does not occur. Common all over Europe to, except for Scandinavia, most part of the Balkans and Spain and Portugal where it is absent.
