Priocnemis hyalinata is one of two species of Priocnemis sens. str. which have an enlarged inner tooth on the tarsal claw. Females have the usual red and black pattern and are distinguished from the other species, fennica Haupt, by having shorter, thicker antennae. Males are black, often with some red on the second tergite, and usually with some red on the legs. They are most reliably determined by the internal genitalia which should be fully extracted.

Priocnemis fennica was only relatively recently recognised as British (Day, 1979) and older… Read more

A medium-sized red and black species, the female usually with red-marked legs. It belongs to the subgenus Priocnemis sens. str., which includes some of the most difficult species to identify accurately. Amongst this group, the female of agilis is one of the better characterised species. The male may be confidently identified by reference to the genitalia.

Until recently this species was known as gracilis Haupt, 1927 (Wahis, 2006; Collins, 2010). The male is relatively distinctive on the subgenital plate, but the female belongs to the difficult group of Priocnemis.

A medium-sized species with red and black gaster; the female with bifasciate wings. Males are easy to identify by the characteristic genital plate. However, females can be very difficult to identify and the advice of Day (1988), that some individuals cannot be placed to species, should be heeded.

Priocnemis exaltata belongs to Priocnemis sens. str. Males can be identified by examination of the genitalia, and females recognised by the long metapostnotum. It is one of the largest species in its subgenus.

Priocnemis fennica belongs in Priocnemis sens. str., where, along with hyalinata (Fabricius), it exhibits the character of a greatly enlarged inner tooth on the tarsal claw. Males exhibit distinct differences in their genitalia in comparison to hyalinata; females of both species are more similar and the characters to separate them more subtle (Day, 1988).

It has only relatively recently been recognised as British (Day, 1979) and older records of ‘hyalinata’, or its synonym femoralis, might refer to either species; fennica… Read more