Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #103743
Title: REVIEW OF THE ASIAN SAWFLY GENUS ANISOARTHRA CAMERON (HYMENOPTERA: TENTHREDINIDAE).

Author
item VASU, V. - PUNJABI UNIV.,PATIALA-IN
item Smith, David
item SAINI, MALKIAT - PUNJABI UNIV, PATIALA- IN

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/24/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Sawflies or plant wasps are part of the plant-feeding complex of insects that cause millions of dollars of damage each year to agricultural crops, forests, and ornamentals. Larvae of a species of the genus Anisoarthra feed on yam, Dioscorea sp., a plant used for food throughout the tropics. This species and two others belong to this genus which occurs only in Burma, India, and Sri Lanka. Two of the species are newly assigned to thi genus. The species are separated and described. Since yam is distributed by commerce, it is important to know how to recognize pests that might be distributed with it. This information will be helpful to APHIS and port identifiers who are responsible for recognizing exotic pests intercepted on incoming commerce.

Technical Abstract: Anisoarthra Cameron includes three species, A. coerulea Cameron from India and Sri Lanka, A. diascoreae (Rohwer), n. comb., from India, and A. birmanica (Malaise), n. comb., from Burma and India (new record). The species are described and illustrated, and a key is provided. Anisoarthra diascoreae feeds on yam, Dioscorea sp. (Dioscoreaceae).