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HYMENOPTERA, Cephoidea Image1 Image2

Description

The Cephoidea are a small superfamily within the Symphyta, with about 105 species in a single family, Cephidae, commonly referred to as stem sawflies. Most species are from the Northern Hemisphere, especially in Eurasia. The larvae are stem borers in various plants, especially grasses, but sometimes other herbaceous plants, shrubs, or trees. A few are pests of cereal grains (e.g. Cephus cinctus, which attacks wheat). They are very slender for Symphytans, often resembling other types of wasps, and they are the only Symphyta which lack cenchri. They are sometimes considered to be the sister taxon to the Apocrita, though the Orussidae are more commonly known as such.

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References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library]

Goulet, H. 1993. Superfamilies Cephoidea, Megalodontoidea, Orussoidea, Siricoidea, Tenthredinoidea and Xyeloidea (pp. 101-129). In GOULET, H. & HUBER, J. (eds). Hymenoptera of the World: an identification guide to families. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 668 pp.

Koch, F. 2005. The sawflies of the BIOTA-Southern Africa Project with description of a new species of Arge (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Symphyta). Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin - Zoologische Reihe 81: 193-199.

Koch, F. 2006. A contribution to the sawfly fauna of the winter rainfall area of southern Africa: revision of the genus Triarge Forsius, 1931 with description of a new species of Pampsilota Konow, 1899 (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Argidae: Arginae, Athermantinae). Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin - Zoologische Reihe 82: 223-238.

Pasteels, J. 1949. Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinoidea). Exploration du Parc National Albert. Mission G.F. de Witte (1933-1935) 60: l-105.

Pasteels, J. 1951. Sur quelques Tenthrediniodea africains. Bulletin et Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 87: 195-205.

Pasteels, J. 1953. Prodromes d'une fauna des Tenthredinoidea (Hymenoptera) de l'Afrique noir. I. Argidae Mém. Soc. Entomologique de Belgique 26:1-128

Pasteels, J.  1955.  Contributions à l'etude de la faune entomologique du Ruanda-Urundi (Mission P. Basilewsky 1953).  Hymenoptera Argidae, Tenthredinidae et Gasteruptiidae.  Annales du Musee Royal du Congo Belge 40: 370-75.

Pasteels, J. 1963. Prodrome d'une faune des Tenthredinoidea de l'Afrique noire. IV. —2e supplement aux Argidae. Bull. Ann. Soc. R. Ent. Belgique 99: 540-560.