Arge pagana is a sawfly in the family Argidae. It is known by the name "large rose sawfly" although the related species Arge ochropus is also known by this name.
Arge pagana | |
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Arge pagana. Dorsal view | |
Side view | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Suborder: | Symphyta |
Family: | Argidae |
Genus: | Arge |
Species: | A. pagana
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Binomial name | |
Arge pagana (Panzer, 1798)
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Synonyms | |
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This species can be found in the Palearctic realm.[4]
Arge pagana can reach a length of about 1 cm. Wings and veins on the wings are black, often with blue metallic sheen. Pronotum and legs are also black. Its most conspicuous feature is a large rounded yellow abdomen. It has a black head and thorax and the legs are largely black. Larvae reach about 25 mm and are pale green with black dots and a yellow head.[5]
The eggs are laid on roses. Larvae appear in early summer and reach full size by the end of July.[5] The larvae are gregarious and live in colonies feeding on rose leaves (Rosa species, Rosa acicularis).[6]
The pupal period is very short. Adults feed on nectar and pollen from Tanacetum vulgare and Heracleum sphondylium. During the warmer years there may be two or, rarely, three generations.