First record of a sawfly, Sphacophilus sp. (Hymenoptera:Argidae), feeding on chipilín, Crotalaria longirostrata (Fabaceae) in Chiapas, México

Argidae is a large, worldwide family of sawflies.  About 360 species have been recorded in the Neotropical Region, but their hosts and biology are poorly known.  In Chiapas, a legume called “Chipilín”, Crotalaria longirostrata, has obtained importance as food and as a potential crop.  Sawfly larvae were found feeding on the foliage of Crotalaria longirostrata, and are a potential pest of the crops.  These larvae were collected and placed in plastic containers (500 ml) covered with a fine mesh for rearing.  Larvae were fed leaflets of the host plant.  In a few days, the larvae pupated, and later adults emerged.  The adults were identified as a species of Sphacophilus, a genus with about 35 species that occurs from extreme southern Canada to Brazil with the greatest diversity in southwestern United States to Central America.  Adults were preserved in 70% ethanol for further identification.