Overview
The host plants of most species are unknown, but the larvae of several endemic species in south-western Western Australia are phytophagous leaf-miners of smoke bush (
Conospermum
). The larvae of the introduced cypress pine sawfly (
Zenarge turneri
) feeds on the foliage of native Callitris species and some exotic cypress (
Cupressus
), while larvae of the portulaca sawfly (
Schizocerella pilicornis
) feed on
Portulaca
.
Description
The Argidae are small to moderate-sized wasps (4 12 mm), characterised by having a single flagellomere which is sometimes forked in males.
Distribution
The argid sawflies are the second largest family of Symphyta with about 800 species worldwide and with most diversity occurring in tropical regions. The family is poorly represented in Australia, with 12 described species. They are not known from New Zealand.
Further information about the Argidae can be found in Benson 1963, Goulet 1993 and Naumann 1991.