Arge massajae ( Gribodo, 1879 )

Koch, Frank, Pauly, Alain, Hora, Zewdu A. & Boevé, Jean-Luc, 2015, Sawflies of Ethiopia (Hymenoptera: Argidae, Tenthredinidae), Zootaxa 4021 (1), pp. 119-155 : 125-127

Arge massajae ( Gribodo, 1879)

( Figs 1 A–E, 7A–D)

Hylotoma massajae Gribodo, 1879: 347 . Locus typicus: Ethiopia, Scioa, Mahal-Uonz. Lectotype designated by F. Koch (Koch & Goergen 2008: 45): ♀. Scioa, Mahal-Uonz [ca 09°34'N 039°54'E], III.1877, leg. Antinori (MCSN). Paralectotypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ from the same locality (MCSN).

Alloscenia maculitarsis Enderlein, 1919: 115 . Locus typicus: Eritrea, Asmara. Holotype: ♂. Eritrea, Asmara [15°20’N 038°56’E], VII.1908, Kristensen S. (ZMPA).

Additional Ethiopian material. Wagira [13°00'N 037°40'E] (1 ♀) ( ZSM); Hadda Galla [= Adigala, 10°25'N 042°14'E], Daini, IV–V.1879 (1 ♂) leg. Antinori; Scioa, Giagague, IV–VI.1881 (1 ♀) leg. Antinori; Scioa, Let. Marfia [= Let Marefia, 09°38'N 039°45'E], IV–VII.1881 (2 ♀) leg. Antinori; idem, VIII.1987 (1 ♂) leg. Ragazzi ( MCSN); Holeta, 09°04'N 038°30'E, 2450 m, with yellow pan traps, 25.VI.2012, in forest, P3675 (1 ♂), 02.VII.2012, in forest, P3683a, P3683b (2 ♂), 10.VII.2012, in Guizotia abyssinica field, P3690b (1 ♀), 16.VII.2012, in forest, P3695a (1 ♂), 17.VII.2012, in Guizotia abyssinica field, P3696b (1 ♀), leg. Z. A. Hora, A. Pauly & J.-L. Boevé ( RBINS).

Distribution. Eritrea, Ethiopia ( Fig. 8 A).

Host plant. Unknown.

Remarks. The types of Hylotoma massajae and Alloscenia maculitarsis were compared and the latter synonymized by Koch & Goergen (2008). According to Pasteels (1953) and Koch & Goergen (2008) A. massajae is clearly distinguished from all other known Afrotropical Arge species by the shape of the penis valve. The genitalia of both sexes are illustrated by Koch & Goergen (2008). Most specimens of A. massajae from Holeta were collected with yellow pan traps in an open forest area ( Fig. 6 D). This may indicate a preference of the species for such a habitat since several adjacent crop fields were also screened but rarely yielded specimens of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Arge massajae. A, sawsheath (dorsal view). B, sawsheath (lateral view). C, lancet. D, serrulae 5 – 6. E, penis valve (left, lateral view).

FIGURE 6. Biotopes in which sawflies were collected. A, Nech Sar N. P. (19. IX. 2012); collected: Arge deckerti and Neacidiophora brevifalcata. B, Ineseno (14. IX. 2012); collected: Athalia obsoleta and Athalia vollenhoveni. C, Ghedo (05. XII. 2013); collected: Athalia spp. D, Holeta HBRC forest (13. IX. 2012); collected: Arge massajae. E, near Lake Chamo (21. IX. 2012); collected: Distega montium. F, Senkele N. P. (17. IX. 2012); collected: Trisodontophyes aethiopica.

FIGURE 8. Distribution maps of six sawfly species. A, Arge massajae. B, Athalia aethiopica. C, Athalia obsoleta. D, Athalia vollenhoveni. E, Xenapates nigritus. F, Distega montium.