Meet Nematus lucidus, a sawfly that can be recognised both by the reddish-brown markings on its mostly black body and the torpedo shape of its abdomen.

Nematus lucidus can be seen around Blackthorn and Hawthorn, as those are the plants its larvae feed on, and the adults can be seen any time from April to June. It’s thought to be common though there aren’t a lot of records in the national databases, probably because it’s under-recorded.