These orange and black sawflies can be tricky to identify, and I got this one wrong when I first recorded it, failing to take proper note of its distinguishing features: orange abdomen and legs, black head and shoulder pads, black front edge to its wings. (I rather like its stripey ‘socks’.)
Fortunately, the national verifier is patient and understanding; he ‘redetermined’ my record rather than just refusing it, as one or two less generous verifiers have been known to do. (I do understand that they must get fed up with some of the crazy records they see.)
So, I can state with absolute certainty that these two beauties are Turnip sawflies (Athalia rosae); they are also known by the common name Turnip tigress, which I rather like, though the name is a clue as to why this species is not well liked by farmers – their larvae, which are a very dark grey-green, feed on cruciferous plants (Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Radish, and Turnip, amongst others) and can have a devastating effect on crops.
