The Biologist
(Lima)
ISSN Versión Impresa 1816-0719
ISSN Versión en linea 1994-9073 ISSN Versión CD ROM 1994-9081
ORIGINAL ARTICLE /ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ARGIDAE (SYMPHYTA) OF
PERU
APORTES AL CONOCIMIENTO DE ARGIDAE (SYMPHYTA) EN EL PERÚ
1Universidad Científica del Sur. Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales. Escuela de Ingeniería Ambiental. Panamericana
Sur km 19. Lima 42.
2Universidad Científica del Sur. Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales. Escuela de Ingeniería Agro-Forestal. Panamericana
Sur km 19. Lima 42.
3Centro Internacional de la Papa. Av. La Universidad s/n. La Molina, Lima, Perú.
fonia14@gmail.com
The Biologist (Lima), 13(2), jul-dec: 249-256.
249
ABSTRACT
Keywords: Symphyta, Scobina, Durgoa. Argidae, Peru.
Review of two specimens of Symphyta from collections of the private consulting company HSE
Corporation SAC and the National University Federico Villarreal resulted in the determination of
two different genera. The specimens correspond to two species of the Argidae, including one of
the genus Scobina (Arginae) and the other of the genus Durgoa (Sterictiphorinae).
1 2 3
Armando Vélez-Azañero ; Alfonso Lizárraga-Travaglini & Carlos Acosta
RESUMEN
Palabras clave: Symphyta, Scobina, Durgoa, Argidae, Perú.
Dos especímenes de Symphyta, provenientes de la colección de la empresa HSE Corporation
SAC y la Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal fueron evaluadas para determinar los
géneros. Las muestras corresponden a dos especies de la familia Argidae, un espécimen del
género Scobina (Arginae) y un espécimen del género Durgoa (Sterictiphorinae).
with the exception of the Orussidae, which is
the only family in the suborder that is a known
parasitoid (Vilhelmsen 2003).
The Symphyta are known as "saw wasps"
because they possess laterally compressed
ovipositors that exhibit variably sized, serrated
teeth that function to cut vegetation for egg
laying. It is considered that Symphyta are an
artificial group within the order Hymenoptera
for filling a paraphyletic relationship between
superfamilies, and for not sharing many
common features with the suborder Apocrita.
The Symphyta are a group of Hymenoptera
that are characterized by a wide thorax-
abdomen connection with little or no abdomen
constriction (Triplehorn & Johnson 2005).
Symphyta consists of 14 families, including 11
in the Neotropics, 809 genera and 8334 species
worldwide, of which approximately 1000 have
been recorded in the neotropical region (Abe &
Smith 1991, Peña 2006). The vast majority are
predominantly phytophagous (Smith 2006),
INTRODUCTION
Symphyta are varied in color from black and
predominantely red. The forewing lacks the 2r
vein and the hind wing possesses a closed anal
cell. Length varies from 4 to 14 mm. The
individuals of this suborder have bisegmented
trochanters, primitive wing veins, and variable
ant ennas . Th e larv a e are s tric t ly
phytophagous, primarily attacking flowering
plants by generating galls or rolling the leaves.
Adults have adapted to feed on floral organs;
so many species have developed numerous
setae like those possessed by bees, which is
hypothetically a form of mimicry or
convergent evolution (Smith 2006).
The Tenthredinoidea superfamily is
characterized by the absence of longitudinal
veins in the forewings, mesonotum lacking
central sulcus, short blade-shaped ovipositor,
and protibia with two apical spines. Argidae is
one of the most diverse group of
Tenthredinoidea in the Neotropics, with 30
genera and approximately 300 species
described (Smith 1969, 2006), the family is
easily recognized by their characteristic
antennae, with the third segment very long.
The objective of this study was to identify the
genus of two specimens of Argidae in Peru in
order to contribute to our understanding of this
important family in Peru.
Two specimens of Symphyta, from the
entomological collections of the private
company HSE Corporation and the National
University Federico Villarreal were reviewed.
Taxonomic keys by Triplehorn & Johnson
(2005), Fernandez & Sharkey (2006), and
Smith (2006a, 2006b) were used to support
taxonomic determination of the taxa involved.
The specimens were collected in montane
forest ecosystems in the Peruvian Andes
utilizing Malaise traps (Martin 1977) that were
positioned at a height of 1.5 m above the
ground.
Specimen 1 was collected in 2005 and
deposited in the entomological collection of
the HSE Corporation, while Specimen 2 was
collected in 2010 and deposited in the
entomological collection of Universidad
Nacional Federico Villarreal (EPB-FCCM-
UNFV) (Table 1).
The Biologist (Lima). Vol. 13, Nº2, jul-dec 2015
250
Vélez-Azañero et al.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Table 1. Location and geographical coordinates of two specimens of the Argidae family
(Symphyta) collected in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
Name Ubication Coordinates Altitude
Specimen 1 District: Echarate
Province: La Convención
Departament: Cuzco
72°56’08,1”W /
11°57’06,5”S.
403 masl
Specimen 2
District: Santa Rosa
Province: Rodríguez de
Mendoza
Departament: Amazonas
77°27’26”W /
6°27’4”S
1756 masl
The Biologist (Lima). Vol. 13, Nº2, jul-dec 2015
251
Two Argidae (Symphyta) of Peru
2003), further this genus was reported in Costa
Rica by Smith et al. (2013), indicating that its
distribution range includes Peru.
The genus Scobina includes more than 50
species from South America, distributed from
Mexico to Argentina. Information on their
symbiotic relationships has been scantily
studied and only host plants of a small number
of species are known, although reportedly
close association with members of the plant
family Malvaceae are common (Smith et al.
2013). Smith (1992) reports the species
Scobina notidacollis in Colombia, Costa Rica,
Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. Blank & Taeger
The studied samples correspond to two unique
morphospecies of the Argidae; the species
represent the genera Scobina (Smith 1992)
(Arginae) of Amazonas and Durgoa (Malaise
1937) (Smith 1991) (Sterictiphorinae) of
Cusco, Peru.
There are a few recorded specimens of the
Durgoa in South America, with distribution
primarily in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Peru. In
P e r u , h a s b e e n r e p o r t e d D u r g o a
mattogrossensis (Smith 1992; Smith & Janzen
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Figure 1. Dorsal view of Scobina sp. (Hymenoptera: Argidae).
1.3mm
0.6mm
The Biologist (Lima). Vol. 13, Nº2, jul-dec 2015
252
Vélez-Azañero et al.
(1995-2007) in their database ECatSym
reported two species for Peru: Scobina bolivari
(Konow, 1899) and Scobina melanocephala
(Lepeletier, 1823).
Scobina
Description
Robust yellowish orange insects to 8mm in
length, lacking marked constriction between
the thorax and abdomen (Figure 1). Head with
interantenal carenas, high and acute, Y-shaped,
bisecting the supraclipeal area. Antennae
inserted on the front of the head, on the
clypeus, between the eyes, and above the
middle level of the eyes. The antennal
flagellum is composed of one long segment
with ornamenta, giving the appearance of a
serrated flagellum (Figure 2).
The Mesonotum is not divided by a marginal
cell. Fore tibias have two apical spurs (Figure
3), while, middle tibias and hind tibias have
pre-apical spines and simple tarsal claws.
Wings have many cells and veins, forewings
extend beyond the apex of the thorax and do
not present the subcosta vein (Figure 4);
marginal cell of the posterior wing is closed,
with an accessory vein at the apex (Figure 5).
Taxonomic classification
Order
Sub Order
Super Family
Family
Sub Family
Genus
: Hymenoptera
: Symphyta
: Tenthredinoidea
: Argidae
: Arginae
: Scobina aff. bolivari
Figure 2. Antennal flagellum segment of Scobina sp.
(Hymenoptera: Argidae). Figure 3. Fore tibia with two apical spurs of Scobina sp.
(Hymenoptera: Argidae).
0.1mm 0.1mm
Figure 4. Fore wing of Scobina sp. (Hymenoptera: Argidae).
The Biologist (Lima). Vol. 13, Nº2, jul-dec 2015
253
Two Argidae (Symphyta) of Peru
Durgoa
Description
Robust yellowish orange insects to 9mm in
length, without marked constriction between
the thorax and abdomen (Figure 7). Head in
dorsal view, wider than long that widens
behind the eyes (Figure 8), small eyes that do
not converge downwards. The lower inter-
ocular distance is larger than the length of the
eye (Figure 8). Antennae inserted in the front
of the head, on the clypeus, between the eyes
and above the average level of the eyes;
antennal flagellum composed of one long
segment (Figure 9).
Mandible with a tooth near the base (Figure
10); maxillary palps with six segments, with
the fourth expanded; labial palps with four
segments, with the second and third segment
widened. The Mesonotum is not divided by a
transverse sulcus. Tibias with apical spines
subequal in length, and no preapical spines;
simple tarsal claws without basal lobe (Figure
11). The wings have many cells and veins,
forewings extend beyond the apex of the
thorax and don´t have the subcosta vein or
intercostal vein. They have narrow costal cell
and marginal closed cell; further the last
submarginal cell is elongated (longest in the
radial than the cubital) (Figure 12). They have
the hind wing with anal cell present, marginal
cell open at the apex and normal jugal area
(Figure 13).
Taxonomic classification
Figure 5. Hind wing of Scobina sp. (Hymenoptera: Argidae).
0.6mm
Order
Sub Order
Super Family
Family
Sub Family
Genus
: Hymenoptera
: Symphyta
: Tenthredionoidea
: Argidae
: Sterictiphorinae
: Durgoa
0.6mm
The study reveals a preference of the genus
Scobina and Durgoa to montane forest
ecosystems, areas of high humidity and
rainfall, which have a high diversity of habitats
and microclimates. The presence of these
genera in these mountain systems can
demonstrate its importance as providers of
ecosystem services, primarily of weed
regulation, as indicated Ugalde (2002).
The Biologist (Lima). Vol. 13, Nº2, jul-dec 2015
254
Vélez-Azañero et al.
Figure 7. Dorsal view of Durgoa sp. (Hymenoptera: Argidae).
0.1mm
0.05mm 0.1mm
Figure 8. Dorsal view of head of Durgoa sp. (Hymenoptera:
Argidae). Figure 9. Antennal flagellum of Durgoa sp. (Hymenoptera:
Argidae).
Figure 10. Frontal view of Durgoa sp. (Hymenoptera:
Argidae) showing the left mandible. Figure 11. Tarsal claw of Durgoa sp. (Hymenoptera: Argidae).
The Biologist (Lima). Vol. 13, Nº2, jul-dec 2015
255
Two Argidae (Symphyta) of Peru
0.05mm 0.05mm
Figure 12. Hind wing of Durgoa sp. (Hymenoptera: Argidae).
0.6 mm
0.6 mm
Figure 13. Fore wing of Durgoa sp. (Hymenoptera: Argidae).
The Biologist (Lima). Vol. 13, Nº2, jul-dec 2015
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Vélez-Azañero et al.
To Dave Smith for their support in the
verification of genres, César Valer for facilitate
the review of samples in entomological
collection of HSE Corporation, John Janovec
and Brenton Laddfor translation assistance.
Smith, D.R. 2006a. Familia Argidae. pp. 213-
21 7 . E n : I n t ro d u c c i ó n a l o s
Hymenoptera de la Región Neotropical.
Ed. Fernández, F. & Sharkey, M.J.
Sociedad Colombiana de Entomología y
Universidad Nacional de Colombia. 894
p.
Smith, D.R. 2006b. Introducción a los
himenópteros basales (Symphyta). pp..
201-207. En: Introducción a los
Hymenoptera de la Región Neotropical.
Sharkey, M. J. & Fernandez F (eds.).
Bogotá D.C. Sociedad Colombiana de
Entomología y Universidad Nacional de
Colombia.
Smith, D.R. & Janzen, D.H. 2003. Food Plants
and Life Histories of Sawflies of the
Family Argidae (Hymenoptera) in Costa
Rica, with Descriptions of Two New
Species. Journal of Hymenoptera
Research, Washington, 12: 193-208.
Smith, D.R.; Janzen D.H. & Hallwachs, W.
2013. Food plants and life histories of
sawflies of the families Argidae and
Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera) in Costa
Rica, a supplement. Journal of
Hymenoptera Research, Washington,
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Triplehorn, C. & Johnson, N. 2005. Borror and
DeLong's Introduction to the Study
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Fernández, F. & M. Sharkey (eds.). 2006.
Introducción a los Hymenoptera de la
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Received July 2, 2015.
Accepted September 21, 2015.
