Allantinae
Allantinae is the largest of in the , comprising approximately 110 organized into five to six tribes. Members are to large-bodied sawflies. The subfamily includes economically significant that feed on cultivated plants, and at least one species exhibits a novel -inducing habit previously unreported for this group.
Identification
to large ; specific diagnostic features for the are not clearly established in available sources. Tribe-level distinctions exist based on morphological characters (Adamasini, Allantini, Athaliini, Caliroini, Empriini, Eriocampini).
Host Associations
- Sanguisorba officinalis - larval First reported -inducing for Empria testaceipes; young in leaf galls, later external feeders
- Fragaria - larval
- Rubus - larval raspberries
- Rosa - larval roses
- Viola - larval violets
- Cornus - larval dogwood
- Lysimachia - larval loosestrife; includes Loosestrife (Lysimachia terrestris), major for pest Monostegia abdominalis in Canada
- Primulaceae - larval -level for Monostegia abdominalis
Life Cycle
of some pupate in fruit or wood. In Empria testaceipes, young larvae inhabit leaf while later become external leaf feeders.
Behavior
has been documented in Empria testaceipes, representing the first report of this habit in the Allantinae.
Human Relevance
Several are economic pests of cultivated plants. Monostegia abdominalis, to Canada around 1965, is a major pest of Loosestrife.
Similar Taxa
- other Tenthredinidae subfamiliesAllantinae is distinguished as the largest with ~110 ; other subfamilies generally have fewer genera and different tribal compositions
- other Hymenoptera lack the constricted ' waist' () of ; Allantinae specifically are to large sawflies with characteristic larval associations