Pterygophorinae species identification
Workbook
Note: This is a “work in progress”. Changes may be made as I discover additional relevant information.
Identification of species in subfamily Pterygophorinae
The matrices below are designed to aid identification of all species in the 2 genera that comprise the Pterygophorinae - Lophyrotoma and Pterygophorus. Images from authoritative sources of selected species follow each matrix as a further aid.
To view iNaturalist Research Grade observations of a particular Lophyrotoma species, click on the name of that species in the list below. (Species without a link have no RG observations at this time).
Lophyrotoma analis Lophyrotoma cyanea Lophrotoma cygna Lophyrotoma interrupta Lophyrotoma leachii Lophyrotoma nigripes Lophyrotoma opima Lophyrotoma ramosa Lophyrotoma uniformis Lophyrotoma zonalis
Biological notes: Lophyrotoma spp. have been observed pseudocopulating on Caleana major (Flying Duck Orchid) - see this iNaturalist observation of a Lophyrotoma interrupta and this one of a Lophyrotoma cyanea (or perhaps Lophyrotoma opima)
Lophyrotoma analis
Lophyrotoma cygna
Lophyrotoma interrupta (including Lophyrotoma nr interrupta)
Lophyrotoma leachii
Click here to compare iNaturalist observations to a summary of the published descriptions of Lophyrotoma leachii
Lophyrotoma nigripes
Lophyrotoma zonalis
Biological note about feeding of Lophyrotoma zonalis larvae: Purcell et al. (2005) note that L. zonalis is the only sawfly species that pupates by burrowing into the papery bark of broad-leaved Melaleuca trees. Many iNaturalist observations record adults and larvae of this species on the bark of Melaleuca trees in close association with holes in the bark (e.g. see this observation for adults and this one for larvae.
To view iNaturalist Research Grade observations of a particular Pterygophorus species, click on the name of that species in the list below. (Species without a link have no observations at this time).
Pterygophorus cinctus Pterygophorus distinctus Pterygophorus facielongus Pterygophorus insignis (not RG but a likely observation here and here) Pterygophorus turneri
Pterygophorus cinctus
Click here to see a detailed description I’ve made of an adult female I identified as Pterygophorus cinctus. This includes a comparison to other Pterygophorus species, stating how it differs in features that are visible in photographs.
Pterygophorus insignis
Pterygophorus nr. turneri
This iNaturalist observation shows a female matching the above image of Pterygophorus nr. turneri mating with two males. Note that these males lack the yellow band on T7 evident in the female.
References:
Benson, R.B. (1938) “On the classification of sawflies (Hymenoptera Symphyta)” Transactions Royal Entomological Society London 87: 353-384
Benson, R.B. (1938) “A revision of the genus Pterygophorus Klug, sensu lato, with the description of two new genera (Hymenoptera, Symphyta)”. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 1:610-625
Costa, A. (1864) “Aeguisti fatti durante l'anno 1862”. Annuario del Museo Zoologico della Reale Universitá di Napoli 2: 8-138.
Froggatt, W.W. (1907) Australian Insects. Brooks et co. Sydney
Kirby, W.F. (1882) “List of Hymenoptera, with descriptions and figures of the typical specimens in the British Museum”. Vol. I. Tenthredinidae and Siricidae. London: British Museum, xxviii Biodiversity Heritage Library link
Konow, F.W. (1905) “Familie Tenthredinidae”. In Wytsman, P., Genera Insectorum. Fasc. 29
Leach, W.E. (1817) “The zoological miscellany; being descriptions of new, or interesting animals. Vol. 3”. Shoe-Lane, London: R. and A. Taylor. Biodiversity Heritage Library link
Morice, F.D. (1918) “Notes on Australian sawflies, especially the “Authors' Types” and other specimens in the British Museum of Natural History and the Hope Collections of the Oxford University Museum; with diagnostic synopses of the genera and species, and photographs illustrating their structural characters”. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 66: 247-333 Biodiversity Heritage Library link
Purcell, M.F. & J.G. Goolsby (2005) “Herbivorous insects associated with the paperbark Melaleuca quinquenervia and its allies: VI. Pergidae (Hymenoptera)”. Australian Entomologist 32: 37-48.
Rohwer, S.A. (1910) “Some Australian Sawflies” Entomological News 21:467-474
Schmidt, S. & Smith, D.R. (2006) “An annotated systematic world catalogue of the Pergidae (Hymenoptera)” Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 34 (3), 207 pp. link to this catalogue from Pergidae of the World website
Schmidt, S., Walter, G.H., Grigg, J. & Moore, C.J. (2006) “Sexual communication and host plant associations of Australian pergid sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Pergidae)” In S.M. Blank, S. Schmidt & A. Taeger (eds) Recent Sawfly Research: Synthesis and Prospects. Goecke & Evers, Keltern. ResearchGate link.
This is a workbook page … a part of our website where we record the observations and references used in making species identifications. The notes will not necessarily be complete. They are a record for our own use, but we are happy to share this information with others.