http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/ipmcrsp/documents_no_reports/Athalia_proxima_outbreak_2012.

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Outbreak of Athalia proxima (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) on Chinese cabbage in West Java B. Merle Shepard, Gerald R. Carner and Aunu Rauf

The taxonomy of sawflies (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) has been studied in the Asian region (Abe 1988). Although there are other species within the genus Athalia that occur throughout Asia, A. proxima, occurs in Indonesia and adjacent countries. This species also has been referred to in the taxonomic literature as as T. lugens proxima and T. proxima lugens (Abe 1988). Normally, sawflies occur only sporadically on vegetable crops and do not cause economic losses. During surveys of vegetable crops in Ciputri (Kecamatan Pacet, Kabupaten Cianjur) in West Java, on April 25, 2012, we found an outbreak of the sawfly, Athalia proxima (Hymenoptera: Tenthridinidae) on Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa). Although this insect had been reported before (Shepard et al. 1999) from previous surveys in Indonesia, this is the first time that the authors have seen A. proxima in large numbers causing serious damage to the crop. The dark larvae (Figure 1) were feeding mainly on the inside of the outer leaves and, as an obvious escape mechanism, dropped immediately when disturbed. Larval feeding caused the edges outer edges older leaves to become frayed and with holes (Figure 2). Several dozen larvae were collected and brought to the laboratory to determine the incidence of parasitism and infection by disease.

Fig. 1. Athalia proxima larva References

Fig. 2. Damage by A. prxima on Chinese cabbage

Abe, M. 1988. A biosystematic study of the genus Athalia Leach of Japan (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). Esakia 26: 91-131. Shepard, B. M., G. R. Carner, A. T. Barrion, P. A. C. Ooi and H. van den Berg. 1999. Insects and their natural enemies associated with vegetables and soybean in Southeast Asia. Quality Printing Company, Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA. 108 pp.