Family Argidae - Argid Sawflies

revised in(1)

~60 spp. in 12 genera in our area(2)

8-15 mm(2)

Mesonotum not divided by a transverse groove between bases of fore wings. Protibia with 2 apical spurs, the smaller spur at least half as long as larger spur. Fore wing without longitudinal vein Sc; at most a short vein Sc1 dividing costal cell. Metatibia with 1 preapical spur or none. Pronotum in dorsal view with posterior margin strongly concave. Tergum 1 extending to metacoxa and fused with metapleuron (in pale specimens, area of fusion darker and not to be confused as a division between sclerites). Mesoscutellar appendage fused to mesoscutellum. Protibia with dorsal spur usually simple. Antenna with 1 flagellomere, fore wing with closed anal cell, base of vein 2A&3A almost always present, and hind wing usually with closed anal and medial cells.

Stout bodied, easily recognized by their characteristic antennae: three-segmented, the third segment very long; males of some species have the last antennal segment U-shaped or Y-shaped (2). Most argids are black or dark colored.

NA argid larvae may be separated from other sawfly larvae by the following combination of characters: (1) Presence of a divergent lobe next to the tarsal claw of each thoracic leg (lobe reduced in Atomacera); (2) one-segmented antenna which may be flat, rounded, or peglike; (3) abdominal segments 1 to 9 each with 3, sometimes 2, annulets; (4) presence of a tarsal claw on each thoracic leg, or only prothoracic leg lacking a tarsal claw.(3)

Key to genera in(1)

Worldwide, most diverse in the tropics.

The larvae feed mainly on foliage of various kinds of ferns, horsetails, gymnosperms and angiosperms, occasionally they feed on the pith of twigs or on catkins.

descriptions & host associations of several common eastern species(4)