Waldheimia laeta (Cameron)

Smith, David R., Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2013, Food plants and life histories of sawflies of the families Argidae and Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera) in Costa Rica, a supplement, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 35, pp. 17-31 : 22

Waldheimia laeta (Cameron)

Monophadnus laetus Cameron, 1883: 22.

Remarks.

Waldheimia is a large genus of nearly 100 species and occurs from southwestern United States to Argentina. Waldheimia laeta is separated by its black head, wings yellow with apices black, abdomen orange with apex black, and the very short, triangular lancet with indiscernible serrulae.

The host plants of five species of Waldheimia in Costa Rica are now known: Waldheimia laeta and Waldheimia lucianocapellii are treated here. Waldheimia suturalis (Cameron) feeds on very young leaves of Cissus rhombifolia Vahl, Waldheimia fascipennis (Norton) feeds on very young leaves of Cissus pseudosicyoides Croat ( Vitaceae ), and Waldheimia interstitialis (Cameron) feeds on leaves of Hamelia patens Jacq. ( Rubiaceae ) ( Smith and Janzen 2003b).

Distribution.

Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Trinidad, Venezuela (Smith, unpublished)

Food plant and biology.

One specimen, 09-SRNP-6456, found feeding on very young leaves of ACG dry forest Cissus alata Jacq. ( Vitaceae ), the same host genus as Waldheimia suturalis and Waldheimia fascipennis ( Smith and Janzen 2003b). This sawfly did not spin a cocoon, but rather pupated naked in the leaf litter.