Arge xanthogaster (Hymenoptera: Argidae): A new threat to rose plants in Meghalaya, India

Abstract

The sawfly, Arge xanthogaster (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Argidae), has recently emerged as a major pest of roses (Rosa spp. L; Rosales: Rosaceae) in Meghalaya and causes around 80% damage to wild and cultivated rose plants. This is a first report of A. xanthogaster as a pest of roses in India. Adults cause ovipositional injuries (split shoots) and larval feeding often results in complete defoliation. The species is multivoltine. Studies on its life history in new habitat are given. Since this species belongs to a species complex of Arge in which species are difficult to distinguish, an attempt was made to develop a DNA barcode based on standard barcoding gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) of the mitochondrial DNA of this species.