Abstract:

In this paper, a new species of Megabeleses fengyangshana Li, Liu & Wei, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), collected from Zhejiang, China is described. The larvae of this species feed on leaves of Liriodendron chinense and can cause serious damage to the plant. The new species is very similar to M. liriodendrovorax G. Xiao, 1993 in general appearance, but can be distinguished from the latter by the cell 2Rs in fore wing with a distinct stigmata and the mesepisternum densely punctured and mixed with microsculptures. Although the morphological differences are less distinct, the mitochondrial genomes of the two species are significantly different. The P-distances of atp6, atp8, cob, cox1, cox2, cox3, nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad4l, nad5, nad6 between M. fengyangshana and M. liriodendrovorax are 11.1%, 13.6%, 10.3%, 7.6%, 6.5%, 7.0%, 6.4%, 11.6%, 7.4%, 7.5%, 5.2%, 6.4% and 7.2%, respectively. A key to the classification of world known species of Megabeleses Takeuchi is provided. This work has laid a foundation for the identification, monitoring and control of this pest.

Key words: sawfly, Megabelesinae, Megabelesini, mitochondrial genome, Magnoliaceae