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Keys to Symphyta

sawflies and wood-wasps

These keys cover a variety of sources, some available new, while others are recently or long out of date. Don't despair, there are numbers of entomological book shops out there and there is a ready market and availability for such works, which come and go with time. The Royal Entomological Society has all its older keys on line, free to download. Nevertheless, this sub-order is not easy.

British Sawflies; a key to the identification of genera occurring in Britain, by Adam Wright; AIDGAP; Field Studies No 203, 1990). 'An excellent and easy-to-use guide which takes you through to genus – often the most difficult route when using full keys to species'.

Hymenoptera 2, Symphyta; Vol 6 Part 2(a); (New edition); by J. Quinlan & I.D. Gauld; Royal Entomological Society of London, Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects, 1981. 'Brought up to date in a relatively easy to understand edition, but does not cover the whole order'.

Hymenoptera 2, Symphyta; Vol 6 Part 2(b); Tenthredinidae; by R.B. Benson; Royal Entomological Society of London, Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects, 1951. 'Long out of print, but it covers a major part of the biggest family; search for it second-hand. Like many older keys, it is difficult to follow, especially in the technical terms used, but it does work'.

Hymenoptera 2, Symphyta; Vol 6 Part 2(c) Nematinae; by R.B. Benson; Royal Entomological Society of London; Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects, 1958. 'No longer in print, but it covers part of the biggest family; look for it second-hand. It is also difficult to follow, especially in the technical terms used, but it does work if you persist'.