Craesus septentrionalis
Craesus septentrionalis | |
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Larvae on Betula pendula | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Suborder: | Symphyta |
Family: | Tenthredinidae |
Genus: | Craesus |
Species: | C. septentrionalis
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Binomial name | |
Craesus septentrionalis | |
Synonyms | |
Craesus septentrionalis, the flat-legged tenthred or birch sawfly, is a
Description
The adult Craesus septentrionalis has a black head, thorax and anterior part of the abdomen while the posterior part of the abdomen is chestnut brown. The wings are clear. The legs are broader near the feet than they are close to the body. The larva has a black head, yellow collar and greyish-green slender body with longitudinal rows of black spots.[2]
Ecology
This sawfly lays its eggs on a number of different host trees including
The integument of the larvae is easily damaged and oozes hemolymph when it is injured. It is hypothesized that this contains harmful substances, possibly derived from the plant on which the larvae are feeding. The hemolymph was found to repel Myrmica rubra ants, however many vertebrate and invertebrate predators feed on the larvae.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Craesus septentrionalis". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
- ^ "Craesus septentrionalis". NatureSpot: recording the wildlife of Leicestershire and Rutland. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
- ^ David L. Clement; Mary Kay Malinoski. "IPM series: Birch trees". University of Maryland Extension. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
- .