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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #122847
Title: IDENTIFICATION, LIFE HISTORY, HOSTS, AND DISTRIBUTION OF THREE SPECIES OF NEOSTROMBOCEROS ROHWER (HYMENOPTERA: TENTHREDINIDAE), POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS FOR THE SMALL-LEAFED CLIMBING FERN, LYGODIUM MICROPHYLLUM

Author
item Smith, David
item WRIGHT, A - USDA/ARS AUSTRALIA
item WINTOTAI, A - DEPART. AGRIC. THAILAN
item DECHENON, R - PUSAT INDONESIA

Submitted to: Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The small-leafed climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, is an invasive noxious weed in Florida. Efforts are underway to search for biological agents in southeastern Asia that may help control this fern. Three sawflies (plant-feeding wasps) have been found in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which feed on the climbing fern or related ferns and which offer potential for introduction and control. Accurate identification is essential so these sawfly species can be recognized and not confused with related species. Notes on their recognition, hosts, and life histories are presented. This information will aid biological control workers in their work on potential control of climbing fern.

Technical Abstract: Three species of Neostromboceros have been reared from ferns in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Notes on the biology, taxonomy, and distribution of N. albicomus (Konow) on Lygodium spp. (Schizaeaceae), N. congener (Konow) on Christella arida (Thelypteridaceae), and N. luchti Malaise on Diplazium asperum (Dryopteridaceae) are given. Stromboceros (Neostromboceros) metallica Rohwer 1912 is a new synonym of Neostrombocero albicomus (Konow 1901).