In total, 388 specimens belonging to 61 species of sawflies were collected in North-Western Georgia in 2020. Among the collected species, 29 are new country records.

South Caucasus, Biodiversity, Inventory, Insecta

The date of reporting the first sawfly (Hymenoptera) species from the Republic of Georgia is uncertain. The authors of the nineteenth century frequently provided highly ambiguous locality data (e.g. "Patria Caucasus" or "Transcaucasia" or "Rossia: Caucasus"), making it impossible to determine whether the species was described from the Caucasian part of Russia, Georgia, or other Caucasian countries in general (Eversmann 1847; Mocsáry 1880, 1883; Konow 1899, 1902). The first checklist of Caucasian insects was published by Radde (1899) providing a list of around 80 species sawflies. Later on, the keys for sawflies and horntails (Symphyta) were compiled by Andguladze (1957) for Georgia and by Dadurian (1962) for Armenia. Due to the work of Dadurian (1962) and Andghuladze (1973) the number of sawflies occurring in Georgia has increased by 105 species. After a large gap of research, the last work was published very recently by Japoshvili and Haris (2022) reporting the 65 symphitans from Kintrishin National Park, of which 42 species were new country records. Thus, prior to our research, Georgia had 147 species of sawflies reported.

In the present contribution, we are reporting the results of a recent faunistic investigation of sawflies that resulted in a significant increase in species diversity in Georgia.

Between June and August of 2020, malaise traps were installed in six localities in north-western Georgia (Fig. 1), which encompasses the two administrative units of Tkibuli and Tsageri districts. The Tkibuli district is located in the Okriba basin, on average, 600-800 m above sea level, alongside the river Tkibula. The maximum height is 1569 m (Jinjikhadze, Chkheidze 2018). The Cretaceous limestone of the Tsageri district is characterized by sharp erosive and karst forms and landslides for caves. There are also Paleogene and Neogene sediments, sandstones, clays, and conglomerates. The highest point is Mount Tsekuri at 3188 meters above sea level (Chichinadze 2022). The administrative centres of both districts are around 40 km away from each other. In both districts, the vegetation types are much the same. In particular, the main forest-forming trees are beech, hornbeam, chestnut, oak, maple, ash, and conifers (spruce, fir). The natural vegetation has been strongly transformed by human influence. There are many deciduous and evergreen shrubs in the forest understory. Elements of xerophytic vegetation are found on the southern-facing limestone slopes, while alder is a common element on the moist river banks (Nakhutsrishvili et al. 2015). The traps were operated from June to August of 2020. The sampling strategy was not designed to obtain quantitative data (for example, traps were not installed during the most active periods for sawflies due to logistic reasons, and also traps were operated for varying lengths of time), but rather to get a snapshot knowledge of the diversity of sawflies of the region.

Figure 1. 

A – Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362, 1070 m a.s.l. B – Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053, 1470 m a.s.l.; C – View of habitat in June 2020 at the same place as previous; D – Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli, N42.696151, E42.812965, 1500 m a.s.l.

For identification and for host-plant data, Zhelochovtsev’s work on the sawflies of the European part of the former USSR (Zhelochovtsev 1988), the handbook of Lacourt on the identification of the European sawflies (Lacourt 2020), the monograph of Robert Benson on the Turkish sawfly fauna (Benson 1968), and Gussakovskij’s monographs on the sawflies of the former USSR (Gussakovskij 1935, 1947) were used. We also consulted recent revisions (Gyurkovics and Haris 2014; Haris 2006; Koch 1988; Prous et.al. 2017; 2021) to confirm the identifications of particular taxa and Georgian Biodiversity Database (GBD) (Tarkhnishvili and Chaladze, 2013) for the distribution of species in Georgia. The general distribution of species are reported based on Roller and Haris (2008), Taeger et al. (2006), Sundukov (2017). Further, reference material was studied in the Budapest collection in the Hungarian Natural History Museum. The nomenclature used in this paper follows the latest monograph of European sawflies (Lacourt 2020) with special concern for the subfamily Nematinae to address the conclusions of Prous et al. (2014). The higher classification of sawflies applied in this work follows the Hymenoptera part of Fauna Europaea (Achterberg 2013). Host plant records are given according to Macek et al. (2020). New records for Georgia are marked with an asterisk (*).

Order: Hymenoptera

Family: Argidae

Genus Arge Schrank, 1802

Arge cyanocrocea (Forster, 1771)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Andguladze (1973). West Palaearctic species. Common host plants: Rubus idaeus and Sanguisorba officinalis.

Genus Sterictiphora Billberg, 1820

Sterictiphora angelicae (Panzer, 1799)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). West Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plants: Prunus spinosa and Rubus spp.

Family: Tenthredinidae

Subfamily: Dolerinae

Genus Dolerus Panzer, 1801

Dolerus (Poodolerus) gonager (Fabricius, 1781)

• GEORGIA • 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Andguladze (1957; 1973). Palaearctic. Common host plants: Graminae spp.

Subfamily: Selandrinae

Genus Aneugmenus Hartig, 1837

Aneugmenus coronatus (Klug, 1818)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 19-25/VII/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Palaearctic species. Sporadic. Host plants: Dryopteris filix-mas, Aspidium sp., Athyrium filix-femina and Pteridium aquilinum.

A. padi (Linnaeus, 1760)*

• GEORGIA • 3 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.698953, E42.826746; 1800 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020.
• Holarctic. Sporadic. Host plants: Asplenium sp. and Pteridium aquilinum.

Genus Birka Malaise, 1944

Birka (Birka) annulitarsis (Thomson, 1870)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020.
• West-Palaearctic species. Sporadic. Host plant unknown.

B. (Birka) catellata (Konow, 1900)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.696151, E42.812965; 1500 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020.
• Previous record is reported by Japoshvili, and Haris (2022). Ponto-Caspian and Turanian. Common species. Host plant unknown.

B. (Birka) cinereipes (Klug, 1816)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274, 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836, 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Palaearctic. Sporadic. Host plants: Myosotis spp.

Genus Nesoselandria Rohwer, 1910

Nesoselandria morio (Fabricius, 1781)

• GEORGIA A • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 2 ♀♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 5 ♀♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Holarctic. Frequent. Host plants: Brachytecium reflexum, Ceratodon purpureus, Chenopodium album, Dicranum scoparium, Fragaria vesca, Hedwigia ciliata, Myosotis arvensis, Plagiomnium cuspidatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Polygonum aviculare, Polytrichum commune, Pseudobryum cinclidiodes, Sanionia uncinata, Stellaria media, Veronica chamaedrys and V. officinalis.

Subfamily: Allantinae

Genus Ametastegia Costa, 1882

Ametastegia (Protemphytus) pallipes (Spinola, 1808)

• GEORGIA • 2 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 2 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.696151, E42.812965; 1500 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020. 2 ♀♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Holarctic. Frequent. Host plant: Viola spp.

A. (Protemphytus) perla (Klug, 1818)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020.
• West-Palaearctic species. Sporadic. Host plants: Salix sp., it is also reported from Quercus and Populus spp.

A. (Protemphytus) tenera (Fallén, 1808)

• GEORGIA • 6 ♀♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Holarctic. Frequent. Larva on Rumex spp.

Genus Allantus Panzer, 1801

Allantus (Emphytus) calceatus (Klug, 1818)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 19-25/VII/2020.
• Palaearctic. Sporadic, locally frequent. Host plants: Rubus, Sanguisorba, Rosa, Filipendula, Fragaria and Alchemilla spp.

A. (Emphytus) cinctus (Linnaeus, 1758)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀, 5 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.696151, E42.812965; 1500 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020. 5 ♀♀, 9 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 7 ♀♀, 50 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♀, 3 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.698953, E42.826746; 1800 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020. 4 ♀♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 3 ♀♀, 12 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 7 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Holarctic. Common. Host plants: Rosa and Fragaria spp.

A. (Emphytus) didymus (Klug, 1818)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic. Sporadic. Larva on Sanguisorba minor; old records from Rubus and Rosa spp. need checking.

A. (Emphytus) melanarius (Klug, 1818)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plant: Cornus sanguinea.

Genus Athalia Leach, 1817

Athalia (circularis) circularis (Klug, 1815)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 9 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.698953, E42.826746; 1800 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 19-25/VII/2020. 6 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.696151, E42.812965; 1500 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020.
• Color form " cordatoides". Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Palaearctic. Common. Host plants: Rosa and Fragaria spp.

A. cordata Serville, 1823

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). West Palaearctic. Common. Host plants: Misopates orontinum, Antirrhinum majus, Ajuga reptans, Teucrium scorodonia and Plantago spp.

A. liberta (Klug, 1815)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274, 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). West Palaearctic species. Frequent. Host plants: Alliaria petiolata, Arabidopsis thaliana, Cardamine hirsuta and Sisymbrium officinale.

Genus Empria Lepeletier & Serville, 1828

Empria tridens (Konow, 1896)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plants: Geum spp. and Rubus idaeus.

Genus Monostegia O.G. Costa, 1859

Monostegia abdominalis (Fabricius, 1798)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020.
• Palaearctic, introduced to US and Canada. Sporadic, locally frequent. Host plants: Glaux maritima, Lysimachia numularia and L. vulgaris.

Genus Taxonus Hartig, 1837

Taxonus sticticus (Klug, 1817)*

• GEORGIA • 2 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic. Sporadic. Host plant unknown.

Subfamily: Heterarthrinae

Genus Caliroa Costa, 1859

Caliroa cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)

• GEORGIA • 3 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.696151, E42.812965; 1500 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020,
• Previously reported by Andguladze (1973). Cosmopolitan. Frequent. Host plants: Pyrus, Malus, Prunus, Crataegus, Sorbus, Rosa, Cydonia, Mespilus, Rubus, Amygdalus, Cerasus, Amelanchier, Pyracantha, Cotoneaster rarely Quercus, Salix spp.

C. cothurnata (Serville, 1823)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). West Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plant: Quercus spp.

Genus Metallus Forbes, 1885

Metallus beckeri (Konow, 1904)

• GEORGIA • 2 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Ponto-Caspian-Persian species. Frequent. Hostplant unknown.

M. pumilus (Klug, 1816)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli, N42.696151, E42.812965; 1500 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020. 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 2 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 19-25/VII/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Palaearctic species. Common. Host plants: Rubus caesius and Rubus idaeus.

Subfamily: Blennocampinae

Genus Eurhadinoceraea Enslin, 1920

Eurhadinoceraea fulviventris (Scopoli, 1763)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Southern part of the Palaearctic region. Frequent, locally common. Hostplant unknown.

E. vopiscus (Konow, 1899)

• GEORGIA • 3 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 4 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020. 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 3 ♀♀, 12 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 4 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Andguladze (1973) and Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Ponto-Caspian species. Common. Hostplants: Poaceae.

Subfamily: Tenthredininae

Genus Aglaostigma Kirby, 1882

Aglaostigma (Bivena) langei (Konow, 1894)*

• GEORGIA • 5 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic species. Sporadic. Host plants: Salix spp., Chamaenerion angustifolium and Epilobium palustre.

Genus Macrophya Dahlbom, 1835

Macrophya (Macrophya) alboannulata Costa, 1859*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic species. Frequent. Host plants: Sambucus nigra, S. racemosa and S. ebulus.

M. (Macrophya) annulata (Geoffroy, 1785)

• GEORGIA • 3 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Andguladze (1973). Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plants: Potentilla reptans, Origanum vulgare, Euphorbia, Rosa, Rubus and Sambucus spp.

M. (Macrophya) blanda (Fabricius, 1775)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; N42.698953, E42.826746; 1800 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020.
• Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plants: Fragaria spp., Rubus spp. and Potentilla reptans.

M. (Macrophya) diversipes (Schrank, 1782)

• GEORGIA • 2 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plants: Fragaria and Rubus spp.

M. (Macrophya) duodecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plants: Graminae, Cyperaceae and Carex spp. like Carex brizoides and C. vesicaria. The species is listed in GBD. However, the record is based on Zhelochovtsev and Zinoviev (1996), in which no relevant information (examined material, vouchers, or references) is given. Thus, we consider this species as a new record for the country.

Macrophya (Macrophya) erythrocnema Costa, 1859*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic. Sporadic. Host plant: Knautia arvensis.

M. (Macrophya) sanguinolenta (Gmelin, 1790)

• GEORGIA • 5 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic species. Frequent. Host plants: Galenopsis, Senecio and Veronica spp.

M. (Macrophya) superba Tischbein, 1852*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Ponto-Caspian, Mediterranean. Frequent. Host plant unknown.

Genus Rhogogaster Konow, 1884

Rhogogaster (Rhogogaster) punctulata (Klug, 1817)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic. Sporadic. Host plants: Salix, Sorbus, Rosa, Betula, Alnus, Fraxinus, Prunus and Corylus spp.

Genus Tenthredo Linnaeus, 1758

Tenthredo (Maculedo) maculata Geoffroy, 1785*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic. Sporadic. Host plants: Brachypodium spp. and Dactylis spp. The species is listed in GBD. However, the record is based on Zhelochovtsev and Zinoviev (1996), in which no relevant information (examined material, vouchers, or references) is given. Thus, we consider this species as a new record for the country.

T. semicolon Mol, 2013*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli, 42.698953, 42.826746; 1800 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020.
• West Palaearctic. Sporadic species. Host plant unknown. Comment: Replacement name of Tenthredo punctulata Konow, 1887

Genus Tenthredopsis Costa, 1859

Tenthredopsis litterata (Geoffroy, 1785)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; 42.696151, 42.812965; 1500 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020.
• West Palaearctic. Frequent. Host plants: Agrostis, Dactylis and Calamagrostis spp.

T. nassata (Linnaeus, 1767)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic species. Sporadic, Host plants: Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia caespitosa, D. calmagrostis, Flexuosa spp., Holcus spp., Lolium perenne, Agropyron spp., Carex spp., Anthriscus silvestris and Artemisia spp.

T. ornatrix Konow, 1890*

• GEORGIA • 5 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• Ponto-caspian species. Host plant unknown.

T. scutellaris (Fabricius, 1804)*

• GEORGIA • 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic. Sporadic. Host plants: Poa pratense, Festuca elatior, Dactylis glomerata and Elytrigia repens.

T. tarsata (Fabricius, 1804)*

• GEORGIA • 3 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic species. Frequent. Host plants: Poaceae, particularly Brachypodium silvaticum.

T. viridis Zhelochovtsev, 1941*

• GEORGIA • 2 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Ponto-Caspian species. Sporadic. Host plant unknown.

Subfamily: Nematinae

Genus Cladius Illiger, 1807

Cladius (Cladius) pectinicornis (Geoffroy, 1785)

• GEORGIA • 3 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 3 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; 42.698953, 42.826746; 1800 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020. 7 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020. 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Andguladze (1957; 1973) and Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Holarctic. Common. Host plants: Alchemilla, Filipendula, Fragaria, Potentilla, Sanguisorba, Rosa and Rubus spp.

Genus Priophorus Dahlbom, 1835

Priophorus brullei Dahlbom, 1835

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; 42.696151, 42.812965; 1500 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020. 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Cosmopolitan. Common. Hosts plants: Rubus spp. like R. idaeus, R. caesius and R. saxatilis.

P. compressicornis (Fabricius, 1804)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 2 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 4 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Holarctic. Frequent pest. Host plants: Betula, Cotoneaster, Prunus, Rubus, Sorbus, Fragaria, Crataegus, Corylus and Rosa spp.

P. rufipes (Serville, 1823)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• West Palaearctic. Sporadic. Host plants: Ulmus spp.

Genus Pristiphora Latreille, 1810

Pristiphora armata (Thomson, 1863)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀, 1 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic species. Frequent. Host plants: Crataegus spp.

P. leucopus (Hellén, 1948)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). West Palaearctic species. Frequent. Host plants: Tilia spp.

P. pallidiventris (Falln, 1808)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Holarctic. Frequent. Host plants: Geum, Potentilla, Rubus and Filipendula spp. The species is listed in GBD. However, the record is erroneously based on Haris (2006).

Genus Pteronidea Rohwer, 1911

Pteronidea bergmanni (Dahlbom, 1835)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Palaearctic species. Frequent. Host plant: Salix spp.

P. myosotidis (Fabricius, 1804)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀, 33 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020. 12 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020. 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 18-24/VIII/2020. 2 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Nalobievi; N42.669761, E42.785362; 1070 m a.s.l.; 19-25/VII/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Palaearctic. Common. Host plants: Onobrychis, Vicia, Trifolium spp. also Lathyrus pratensis.

P. oligospila (Förster, 1854)*

• GEORGIA • 2 ♂♂; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 13-20/VI/2020.
• Originally Palaearctic species, introduced globally, now cosmopolitan. Frequent. Host plants: Salix spp. It is also reported from Populus spp.

P. tibialis (Newman, 1837)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tkibuli, Mukhura village, Gabrichidzeebis Ubani; N42.319369, E43.061274; 780 m a.s.l.; 20-27/VI/2020.
• Nearctic, introduced to Europe with Robinia, invasie in the Caucasus. Frequent. Larva on Robinia pseudacacia and also on Robinia viscosa, R. hispida and Gleditsia triacanthos.

Genus Pachynematus Konow, 1890

Pachynematus obductus (Hartig, 1837)*

• GEORGIA • 1 ♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Sakenebeli; 42.698953, 42.826746; 1800 m a.s.l.; 20-26/VII/2020.
• Holarctic. Sporadic. Larva on Gramineae (Poa, Festuca spp.) and Carex.

Genus Stauronematus Benson, 1953

Stauronematus platycerus (Hartig, 1840)

• GEORGIA • 1 ♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Katsunara; N42.667145, E42.770836; 550 m a.s.l., 5-12/VI/2020.
• Previously reported by Japoshvili and Haris (2022). Palaearctic species. Frequent. Host plants: Populus spp.: Populus tremula, P. alba, P. nigra, P. balsamifera and Salix spp. The only European Symphyta which larva erects a palisade of dried saliva around its feeding place.

Family: Cephidae

Genus Calameuta Konow, 1896

Calameuta (Calameuta) antigae (Konow, 1894)*

• GEORGIA • 3 ♀♀; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• So far, it’s been known only from Spain (West Palaearctic). It seems, that the speice has a Ponto-Caspian – Mediterranean distribution and is relatively rare. Host plant unknown.

C. gracilicornis (Konow, 1896)*

• GEORGIA • 2 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂; Tsageri, Doghurashi village, Tsablanis Gora; N42.678243, E42.810053; 1470 m a.s.l.; 5-12/VI/2020.
• Ponto-caspian. Host plant unknown.

Prior to our study, 147 species of sawflies had been reported from Georgia (Japoshvili and Haris 2022). During this study, 29 new species for Georgia were reported, and thus the number of sawflies found in Georgia increased to 183. Given the rather scarce and sporadic investigation of sawflies in Georgia, the species number is expected to be significantly higher. Furthermore, we collected 61 species in north-west Georgia, which indicates that this area supports a much higher diversity of sawflies compared to south-west Georgia. Indeed, extensive, whole-year malaise trap sampling of sawflies in Kintrishi Protected areas revealed 65 species only (Japoshvili and Haris, 2022).

The density of sawflies and their species richness were measured at five different altitudes (from 550 to 1800 meters above sea level). The highest diversity and density, with 40% (155) of individuals belonging to 39 species, were collected at 1070 m. The number of individuals and raw species richness decrease at lower (550 m - 16 ind/9sp, 780 m - 121ind/28sp) and higher altitudes (1470 m - 74in/15sp, 1800 m - 22in/7sp). However, this kind of inference is not statistically valid as the sampling intensity was also higher at the elevations with higher individual/species density. In addition, the sampling period was behind the activity peaks (April and May) of sawflies. Accordingly, obtained numbers of individuals or species density cannot be considered as comprehensive quantitative biodiversity data.

We are grateful to the BMBF-funded project Caucasus Barcode of Life (CaBOL - https://ggbc.eu/), ref. number: 01DK20014A for the financial support of the field work. We would like to thank Dr Levan Mumladze for his help during the preparation of the manuscript.