Abia candens Konow, 1887

Lønnve, Ole Jørgen & J .., O., 2009, Notes on Norwegian sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta) II. 13 species new to the Norwegian Fauna, Norwegian Journal of Entomology 56, pp. 50-56 : 51

Abia candens Konow, 1887 and A. sericea (Linnaeus, 1767)

The records of A. candens : Ø, Hvaler: Asmaløy , EIS 12, 18 June 2005, 1♂ leg Sørlibråten, O.; AK, Oslo: Bekkelaget , EIS 28, 30 June 1847, 1♂ leg. Siebke, J. H. S. ; Oslo: Tøyen , EIS 28, before 1890, 1♀ leg. Moe, N. G. ; HES, Kongsvinger: Kongsvinger , EIS 38, 27 June 2002, 1♂ leg. Lønnve, O. J.

The records of A. sericea : AK, Oslo: Abildsø , EIS 28, before 1880, 1♀ leg. Esmark, L. M. ; HOI, Hardanger , 7 July 1874, 1♀ leg. Sparre Schneider, H. J. ; HOY, Bergen: Bergen , EIS 30, 1870, 1♀ leg. Sparre Schneider, H. J. ; HES, Elverum: Grundset , EIS 55, before 1875, 1♂ leg. Siebke, J. H. S. ; MRY, Gjemnes: Batnfjorden, Knutset (UTMwgs8432 VMQ359793 ), EIS 84, 13 August 2006, 1♀ leg. Hatlen, H.

Notes: In Siebke (1880), Abia nitens (Linnaeus, 1758) is regarded as a Norwegian species. This is not right. All the material of Abia (including Siebke’s material) exanimate belongs to A. candens Konow, 1887 and A. sericea (Linnaeus, 1767) . The hostplant to A. nitens is reported to be Scabiosa columbaria and S. canescens ( Liston & Späth 2006) . S. canescens don’t occur in Norway (Mosseberg & Steinberg, 2007). A. columbaria is newly reported from Norway at one singe spot at Moss, Jeløya ( Engan et al. 2006), therefore is it not very likely that A. nitens are present here. A. nitens is therefore deleted from the Norwegian list. Though widespread, the records of A. candens and A. sericea are few and scattered. The hostplant for both species is Succisa pratensis ( Liston & Späth 2006) , a plant that occurs over a greater part of Norway. A. candens and A. sericea where assessed for the 2006 Red List. A. candens was given the category endangerd (EN) based on small area of occupancy. A. sericea was given the category date deficient (DD).