Megalodontesidae Explained

The Megalodontesidae (until recently spelled Megalodontidae,^[1] a name already in use for a family of fossil molluscs) are a small family of sawflies, containing a single living genus, Megalodontes, with some 40 species restricted to the temperate regions of Eurasia. Larvae of Megalodontesidae feed on herbaceous plants. They are distinguished from the closely related Pamphiliidae by their serrate or pectinate antennae.^[2]

In 2016, a phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily Pamphilioidea found that the extinct family Praesiricidae was paraphyletic with respect to Megalodontesidae, so Praesiricidae was proposed as a synonym of Megalodontesidae.^[3]

Genera

As of 2016, the following genera belong to the family Megalodontesidae, divided into four subfamilies:^[3]

• Subfamily Megalodontesinae (synonym: Rudisiriciinae)
  • †Aulidontes
  • †Jibaissodes
  • Megalodontes
  • †Rudisiricius
    • Subfamily Archoxyelydinae †Archoxyelyda
  • †Xyelydontes
    • Subfamily Decorisiricinae †Brevisiricius
  • †Decorisiricius
  • †Limbisiricius
    • Subfamily Praesiricinae †Praesirex
  • †Turgidontes
• Incertae sedis
  • †Hoplitolyda
  • †Sinosepulca

References

• Biolib
• Naturspaziergang
• Aramel.free.fr
• R.B. Benson: Handbook for the identification of British insects. Vol IV: Hymenoptera. 2. Symphyta Section a. Published by the Royal Entomological Society of London, 1951.

Notes and References

1. International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature . International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature . 1996 . Opinion 1829. Megalodontidae Konow, 1897 (Insecta, Hymenoptera): spelling emended to Megalodontesidae, so removing the homonymy with Megalodontidae Morris & Lycett, 1853 (Mollusca, Bivalvia) . . 53 . 1 . 66–67.
2. Book: Hymenoptera of the world : an identification guide to families. 1993. Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research. Goulet, Henri., Huber, John T. (John Theodore), Canada. Agriculture Canada. Research Branch.. 0-660-14933-8. Ottawa, Ont.. 28024976.
3. Wang. M.. Rasnitsyn. A.P.. Li. H.. Shih. C.. Sharkey. M.J.. Ren. D.. 2016. Phylogenetic analyses elucidate the inter-relationships of Pamphilioidea (Hymenoptera, Symphyta). Cladistics. 32. 3. 239–260. 10.1111/cla.12129. free.