Josep Tormos

Description of the mature larva of the sand wasp Bembix bidentata and its parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae, Chrysididae, Mutillidae).

ABSTRACT The mature larvae of Bembix bidentata and one of its chrysidid and mutillid parasitoids are described and illustrated, and structures of phylogenetic value are discussed. The mature larva of B. bidentata is characterized by an integument with short setae (< 40 µm) and scanty microspinules. The ratio between the length of the antennal papilla and the width of the antennal orbit is a character state that can be used in the separation of the final instar of European Bembix species. The mature larva of Chrysidea disclusa is characterized by a combination of two character states: (1) an atrium without asperities or weak lines on the circumference, and (2) antennal papillae longer than broad; the larval morphology of Chrysidea previously was unknown. The mature larva of Chrysura hybrida is characterized, within the genus Chrysura, by the autapomorphy “maxillary palpus with 4 sensilla at apex.” The range of hosts of Chrysura spp. is broadened to the Crabronidae. The mature larva of Smicromyrme rufipes is characterized, within the Mutillinae, by having more than 8 apical setae and no apical papillae on the labium.

Notes on the prey, nesting behaviour and natural enemies of three Bembix sand wasps (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract Bembix is a cosmopolitan genus with more than 300 species distributed all over the world. The females of these wasps dig burrows in the ground and hunt for flies to feed their larvae. Current knowledge of the nesting behaviour of most Palaearctic species (around 50) is limited. In this study, we provide data on the nest structure, nesting activity, natural enemies and prey captured by three Bembix sand wasps present on the Iberian Peninsula: B. zonata, B. flavescens bolivari and B. merceti. We also analyze the prey spectrum of the three species, comparing our data with those available from previous studies. B. zonata exhibits the greatest selectivity index (and the narrowest niche width), capturing mainly Syrphidae to provision its nests. B. merceti shows the greatest niche width in comparison with the other two species. The inter-annual differences in the diet of B. merceti are important and are probably due to the ability of this wasp to change from one prey resource to another, depending on its availability.

Description of the Mature Larvae of Chrysis angustula Schenk and Hedychridium elegantulum Buysson (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) and the Phylogenetic Importance of Larval Characters

Mature larvae of Chrysis angustula Schenk, 1856, and Hedychridium elegantulum Buysson, 1887, are described. A discussion of the phylogenetic importance of the preimaginal structures of known mature...

A New Species of Dacnusini from Montecristo Island, with Description of the Preimaginal Phases and Venom Apparatus of Antrusa curtitempus (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae)

ABSTRACT Antrusa montecristiensis, a new species of Dacnusini from Montecristo island (Italy), is described, illustrated, and compared with allied species. Specific keys of the genus Antrusa for the West Palaearctic region are provided. The preimaginal phases and the venom apparatus of A. curtitempus Fischer, Tormos, Docavo & Pardo, are described, illustrated, and compared with species of allied genera. The larva stages are similar to those of Dacnusa; the immature larvae differ in the number and distribution of the setae of the abdominal and thoracic segments, and the mature larva in the type of the tegumental differentations of the thorax and abdomen as well as in the number and size of the sensilla of the maxillary palpi. The venom apparatus of this species is very similar to that of Antrusa flavicoxa (Thomson), differing from it in length of the reservoir and the number of gland filaments.

A NEW SPECIES OF TELENOMUS HALIDAY (HYMENOPTERA: SCELIONIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH EGG BATCHES OF THE PINE PROCESSIONARY MOTH, THAUMETOPOEA PITYOCAMPA (DENNIS ET SCHIFFERMÜLLER, 1775) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOTODONTIDAE), FROM PENINSULAR SPAIN'

ABSTRACT: Telenomus thaumetopoeae Buhl sp. n. is described from northeastern València (Peninsular Spain) taking as starting point females parasitizing the egg-batches of the Pine Processionary Moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Dennis et Schiffermüller, 1775). Its morphological affinities with the most closely related species and parasitism data are offered.

Dacnusa cicerina (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae), A New Species of Endoparasitoid of Liriomyza cicerina (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Abstract The larvae, pupa, adults, and venom apparatus of Dacnusa cicerina sp. n., an endoparasitoid of Liriomyza cicerina (Rondani), found on Cicer arietinum Linnaeus in Spain, are described, illustrated, and compared with those of allied species. The mature larva of Eurytoma sp., possibly a hyperparasitoid of D. cicerina, also is described, illustrated, and compared with those of allied species. Keys to discriminate adults are provided and morphological structures of phylogenetic value are discussed. The adults of D. cicerina are similar to those of Dacnusa rodriguezi Docavo & Tormos (1997). The immature larvae are similar to those of Dacnusa areolaris (Nees) and Dacnusa dryas (Nixon), and the mature larva is very similar to that of D. dryas, from which it differs in having scale-like sensilla (“setae”) on the thorax and abdomen. The cast skin of the final instar, like those described for Dacnusa Haliday, has a pleurostoma with well differentiated mandible processes and a long stipital sclerite. The venom apparatus of this species is very similar to that of Dacnusa flavicoxa Thomson, differing from it in length of the reservoir and the number of gland filaments. The mature larva of Eurytoma Illiger described here, despite its endoparasitoid nature, has well differentiated pleural and ventral setae.

Description of the mature larva of synergus filicornis (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini), with notes on the immature larvae

Abstract The final instar larva of Synergus filicornis (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini) is described and illustrated. Morphological structures of a diagnostic value are discussed. The most remarkable character states shown by the mature larva of this species lie in the integument, which unlike the rest of described cynipoid mature larvae, presents tegumental differentiations. Additionally the antennal orbits, unlike those of other described Synergini mature larvae, did not present one seta on each antennal orbit. The immature larvae can be differentiated from the mature larva by the following characters: a) number and location of sensorial tegumental differentiations on the head, b) number of sensilla on the maxillary palpi, and c) morphology of the mandibles. The determination of the mandibles size, in this species, permits the estimation of the larval stages number.

Description of the Mature Larvae of Two Species of Liris with Notes on the Immature Stages of L. Niger (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

ABSTRACT The preimaginal stages of 2 species of Liris, including the egg, 2 mature and 1 immature larvae are described. The mature larva of L. niger (Fabricius) described is very similar to the previously known immature one. The mature larva of L. festinans praetermissus (Richards) differs only in minor details from that of L. niger, with the presence in the first one of parietal bands being outstanding. To date, the last larval stage of subtribe Larrina can be defined by the following character states: (a) head no higher than wide, (b) mandible with 4 or more teeth, (c) epipharynx with a large number of slender spinules, which tend to converge toward the midline, and (d) labrum rounded apically Within the Larrina, the mature larva of Liris is characterized by the autapomorphy “epipharynx spinulose, with a bare area in the center”.

Descriptions of the Final Instar Larvae of Perithous septemcinctorius, Zatypota bohemani and Z. gracilis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae)

The exuviae of the final larval instar of three species of pimpline Ichneumonidae (Pimplinae: Delomeristini, Ephialtini), Perithous septemcinctorius (Thunberg), Zatypota bohemani (Holmgren) and Z. ...