Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Atomacera decepta - Hibiscus Sawfly

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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)