Iris sawfly

The iris sawfly (Rhadinoceraea micans) is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae.[2] Native to Europe, the larvae — more often noticed than the adults — can occur in large numbers causing damage to garden plants such as the yellow iris or flag, Iris pseudacorus.[3]

Iris sawfly
Caterpillar larva of yellow flag iris sawfly (Rhadinoceraea micans) on host plant
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Symphyta
Family: Tenthredinidae
Subfamily: Blennocampinae
Genus: Rhadinoceraea
Species:
R. micans
Binomial name
Rhadinoceraea micans
Klug, 1816[1]
Synonyms

Description
Caterpillar-like larvae of R. micans on yellow iris, showing damage to host plant

Adult

The adult sawfly is shiny, black, and hairy. The antennae are thick, and longer than head and thorax combined. The wings are slightly smoky. The head is as wide as the thorax.[4]

Larva

The larvae, up to 1 inch (25 mm) long, look like caterpillars but have six pairs of prolegs rather than five. The head is shiny black; the body greenish brown, becoming darker with age. There are double rows of white dots around the segments. Larval host plants are all waterside irises, including Iris pseudacorus, Iris ensata, Iris laevigata, Iris spuria and Iris versicolor.[5][6]

Life cycle and behaviour

The adult iris sawflies lay their eggs in May on the leaves of irises (especially the yellow flag). The eggs are in large flat placards on iris leaves. The female lays the eggs by inserting her "saw" into the blade of the leaf near the thickened middle, not far from the leaf base. As many as 19 eggs may be inserted into separate cells of a single leaf.[7] The larvae eat the leaves until about July and then crawl into the ground. There, they spin cocoons and pupate. They overwinter as pupae. The adults hatch in May of the following year.[8]

The adults fly reluctantly and may sham death if touched.[7]

The larvae are serious garden pests and can completely defoliate irises, especially the yellow iris, when these are growing by water. Irises on dry ground are however not attacked.[9]

Distribution

The iris sawfly is endemic to Europe, being found in Britain, France, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the low countries, Germany, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria and Romania. It is absent from Spain, Sicily and the Mediterranean islands, Greece, former Yugoslavia and countries east of Poland.[10]

Bibliography
  • Alford, David V. Plant Pests. Collins New Naturalist Library, 2011.
  • Cameron, Peter. A monograph of the British phytophagous Hymenoptera (Volume 1). Ray Society. 1882. Archive.org Entry "Blennocampa micans", page 237.
  • Halstead, Andrew, and Beatrice Henricot. Pests and Diseases: simple steps to success. Royal Horticultural Society/Dorling Kindersley, 2010. ISBN 978-1405-348867.

References
  1. "Fauna Europaea". urn:lsid:faunaeur.org:taxname:355646. 27 January 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  2. Yu, Dicky Sick Ki (1997–2012). "Rhadinoceraea micans (Klug 1814)". Home of Ichneumonoidea. Taxapad. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  3. "Special Perennials". The Garden in May. May 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  4. Peter Cameron, 1882.
  5. Bon, André (June 2010). "Iris Sawfly". Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  6. Halstead and Henricot, page 101.
  7. Scott, Hugh (30 April 1921). "The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine". Notes on the Oviposition and Habits of the Iris Sawfly, Rhadinoceraea Micans. 57: 229–232, 261–2. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  8. de Graaf, Thijs. "Sawflies, Symphyta". Iris Sawfly. Tuin-thijs. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  9. "Iris Sawfly". The Gardener's Almanac. 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  10. "PESI portal". Rhadinoceraea. EU-Nomen. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
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