The Megalodontesidae (until recently spelled Megalodontidae, a name already in use for a family of fossil molluscs) are a small family of sawflies, containing a single living genus, Megalodontes, with some 40 species restricted to the temperate regions of Eurasia. Larvae of Megalodontesidae feed on herbaceous plants. They are distinguished from the closely related Pamphiliidae by their serrate or pectinate antennae.
In 2016, a phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily Pamphilioidea found that the extinct family Praesiricidae was paraphyletic with respect to Megalodontesidae, so Praesiricidae was proposed as a synonym of Megalodontesidae.
Genera As of 2016, the following genera belong to the family Megalodontesidae, divided into four subfamilies:
Subfamily Megalodontesinae (synonym: Rudisiriciinae ) †Aulidontes †Jibaissodes Megalodontes †Rudisiricius Subfamily Archoxyelydinae †Archoxyelyda †Xyelydontes Subfamily Decorisiricinae †Brevisiricius †Decorisiricius †Limbisiricius Subfamily Praesiricinae †Praesirex †Turgidontes Incertae sedis †Hoplitolyda †Sinosepulca
References
Biolib Naturspaziergang Aramel.free.fr R.B. Benson: Handbook for the identification of British insects. Vol IV: Hymenoptera. 2. Symphyta Section a. Published by the Royal Entomological Society of London, 1951.