Allantinae

Tribe Guides

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Allantinae is the largest of in the Tenthredinidae, comprising approximately 110 organized into five to six tribes. Members are medium to large-bodied sawflies. The subfamily includes economically significant that feed on cultivated plants, and at least one species exhibits a novel gall-inducing habit previously unreported for this group.

Sciapterygini by (c) Andreas Taeger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andreas Taeger. Used under a CC-BY license.Dimorphopteryx abnormis by (c) Ben Armstrong, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ben Armstrong. Used under a CC-BY license.Allantinae by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Allantinae: /ˌælænˈtɪniː/

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Identification

Medium 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).

Images

Host Associations

  • Sanguisorba officinalis - larval First reported gall-inducing for Empria testaceipes; young larvae endophagous in leaf galls, later instars external feeders
  • Fragaria - larval strawberries
  • Rubus - larval raspberries
  • Rosa - larval roses
  • Viola - larval violets
  • Cornus - larval dogwood
  • Lysimachia - larval loosestrife; includes Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia terrestris), major for introduced pest Monostegia abdominalis in Canada
  • Primulaceae - larval -level for Monostegia abdominalis

Life Cycle

Larvae of some pupate in fruit or wood. In Empria testaceipes, young larvae inhabit leaf galls while later instars become external leaf feeders.

Behavior

Gall induction 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, introduced to Canada around 1965, is a major pest of Yellow 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' (petiole) of ; Allantinae specifically are medium to large sawflies with characteristic larval associations

Sources and further reading