The Maiden Tigress (Athalia ancilla) is a small, orange and black sawfly (an insect in the same order as bees and wasps, but lacking a "wasp-waist") found across Eurasia and Africa.
Size: Adults are typically 5 to 7 mm long.
Appearance: They have a stout, non-stinging, orange and black body. Like other sawflies, they lack the distinct narrow "wasp waist" (petiole) found in wasps, bees, and ants.
Diet & Host Plants: The larvae feed exclusively on cruciferous plants (family Brassicaceae). Specific host plants include garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), various cabbages (Brassica spp.), and hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale). Adults feed on nectar from a variety of plants.
Habitat: This species is associated with damp or wet environments where its host plants grow.
Distribution: In Great Britain, it is mostly recorded in the south-west, though sparse records exist north to Scotland. The genus Athalia is found across Eurasia and Africa.
Flight Period: Adults are typically seen flying from May to September.
Status: In Great Britain, the species has a conservation status of "Least Concern".
Identification Note: Due to the existence of several very similar species within the Athalia genus (known as "tigress sawflies"), detailed examination is required for positive identification.
