Megaxyela major

(Cresson, 1880)

Megaxyela major is a of in the , one of the most families of . The Megaxyela contains some of the largest xyelid sawflies. Species in this genus are associated with walnut (Juglans) and hickory (Carya) trees as for their .

Megaxyela P1180052a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Megaxyela P1180053b by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Megaxyela P1180054c by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Megaxyela major: /ˌmɛɡəˈzaɪələ ˈmeɪdʒər/

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Images

Distribution

North America. The Megaxyela is primarily Nearctic in distribution.

Diet

feed internally in and shoots of walnut (Juglans) and hickory (Carya) . have been observed feeding on pollen.

Host Associations

Juglans - larval walnut
Carya - larval hickory

Ecological Role

As primary consumers of walnut and hickory tissues, may influence development and shoot growth in trees. The represents an early evolutionary lineage of , making like M. major of interest for studies of hymenopteran and the evolution of -feeding in the .

Similar Taxa

Megaxyela langstoniAnother large in the same , also associated with Juglans; distinguished by morphological details of and
PleroneuraAnother with in conifer ; distinguished by association (conifers vs. hardwoods) and

More Details

Taxonomic significance

Megaxyela major belongs to , the only extant in the suborder Symphyta that retains the ancestral condition of a mobile last tergite and , characteristics of the earliest .

Collection records

The has been documented in entomological collections, with specimens deposited in institutions including the Bohart Museum of at UC Davis.