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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Symphyta" - Sawflies, Horntails, and Wood Wasps » Argid Sawflies (Argidae) » Atomacera » Hibiscus Sawfly (Atomacera decepta)

Species Atomacera decepta - Hibiscus Sawfly

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
Sawfly - Atomacera decepta - male Hibiscus Sawfly - Atomacera decepta Arge pectoralis group - larva with host plant - Atomacera decepta Hibiscus Sawfly Larva - Atomacera decepta Argidae, dorsal, on Glade Mallow - Atomacera decepta Lots of these very small insects on glade mallow - Atomacera decepta Small, green caterpillar - Atomacera decepta Unidentified Larva - Atomacera decepta
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon ("Symphyta" - Sawflies, Horntails, and Wood Wasps)
Family Argidae (Argid Sawflies)
Genus Atomacera
Species decepta (Hibiscus Sawfly)
Explanation of Names
Atomacera decepta Rohwer 1911
Size
Adults 4-8 mm, larvae to 13 mm
Range
e. US (map) (1)
Season
larvae May-Oct in NC (Baker & Bambara 2000)
Food
hosts: various Malvaceae
Life Cycle
Click on a thumbnail

females lay eggs in the upper surfaces of leaves, near the leaf margin. Early instars feed only on the undersides of leaves. Later instars feed on both lower and upper surfaces of the leaves, avoiding large veins.
Up to six generations per year
Remarks
can damage hibiscus, marshmallow, buttonbush & some other perennials(2)
Internet References
Fact sheet (CT) (Hiskes 2005)
U. Arkansas
U. Maryland
Works Cited
1.Taeger A., Cincotta S., Susko E. (-2013) Kinds of Symphyta on Discover Life
2.Garden Insects of North America : The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs (Princeton Field Guides)
Whitney Cranshaw. 2004. Princeton University Press.
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 27 June, 2004 - 6:38pm
Additional contributions by Tony DiTerlizzi, Beatriz Moisset, Chuck Entz, Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, v belov, KenW
Last updated 17 June, 2015 - 8:29pm

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