Red-belted Macrophya - Macrophya annulata
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Species Description
Widespread and fairly frequent throughout England and Wales. Habitat includes: rough grassland, scrub, field margins, parks, gardens, allotments, churchyards, hedgerows, woodland, meadows, old quarries, roadside verges, wasteland, coasts etc. Length: 10 - 12.5 mm. Flight period: May to July. Food Plant: Creeping Cinquefoil, roses and brambles. Difference between Males and Females: Females have a bright-red band occupying tergites 2-4 and the base of 5. Males are slimmer and usually have a less conspicuous red band that occupies tergites 2, 3 and the base of 4 (often with a black spot in the centre of tergite 2 and 3), front and mid legs are more conspicuously lined with white anteriorly than in the females, and the fore and mid tarsi are mostly white. Confusion Species: Various Spider Wasps (e.g. Priocnemis perturbator). Other names include: Cinquefoil Strider.