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Title: A SYNOPSIS OF THE SAWFLIES (HYMENOPTERA: SYMPHYTA) OF AMERICA SOUTH OF THE UNITED STATES: TENTHREDINIDAE (NEMATINAE, HETERARTHRINAE, TENTHREDININAE)

Author
item Smith, David

Submitted to: Transactions of the American Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The caterpillar-like larvae of sawflies are part of the plant-feeding complex of insects that may cause extensive damage in forests, agricultural crops, and ornamentals. Some are beneficial and have been considered for importation for biological control of invasive weeds. The fauna of America south of the United States is poorly known. There has never been a comprehensive study on the sawflies of this region. This study gives keys and descriptions of 29 species in 12 genera and three subfamilies of the family Tenthredinidae. They occur from Mexico to Chile and some are orchard and forest pests. Seven species are newly described. This study provides a means for identification of members of these subfamilies from south of the United States. It will help APHIS identify interceptions and prevent entry of invasive species, aid biological control workers to search for natural enemies of plants, and be of use to all interested in plant-feeding insects.

Technical Abstract: The subfamilies Nematinae, Heterarthrinae, and Tenthredininae of the Tenthredinidae are reviewed for the Western Hemisphere south of the United States. A key is given for the seven subfamilies of Tenthredinidae for this region. Nematinae include six genera and 17 species, with the following new species: Pristiphora auricauda (Costa Rica), P. fernandezi (Colombia), P. fuscalae (Costa Rica), P. hansoni (Costa Rica), P. helveola (Mexico), and P. semialba (Venezuela). Heterarthrinae include three genera and eight species, with one new species, Brasinusa malaisei (Brazil). Tenthredininae include three genera and four species. All Tenthredininae and many of the Nematinae are southern extensions of northern groups into northern Mexico, and two species, Nematus oligospilus (Foerster) (Nematinae) and Caliroa cerasi (L.) (Heterarthrinae), are introductions into southern South America. All nine species of Pristiphora (Nematinae) and the genera Brasinusa and Notofenusa (Heterarthrinae) are endemic to th Neotropics.