Sandor Christiano Buys

Nesting habits, alternative nesting tactics and female territoriality of the cockroach-hunting solitary wasp Penepodium luteipenne (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)

The nesting behaviour of the cockroach-hunting solitary wasp Penepodium luteipenne (Fabricius, 1804) is described, including five different nesting tactics: digging of new nests, use of pre-existing burrows in the soil, brood parasitism of open nests, brood parasitism of closed nests, and nest usurpation. Observations of a peculiar female territorial behaviour are also provided. Knowledge of the behaviour of other species of the tribe Podiini is summarized and compared with the behaviour of P. luteipenne. This study is based on nesting females observed in the Biological Reserve of Poco das Antas, an area in southeastern Brazil covered by Atlantic Forest.

Description of the immature instars of three species of Podium Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) from Brazil

Immature instars of three species of the neotropical cockroach-hunting genus Podium Fabricius, 1804 are described. All larval instars and the cocoon of P. denticulatum Smith, 1856; the last instar and the cocoon of P. aureosericeum Kohl, 1902 and the last instar larva of P. fumigatum (Perty, 1833) were treated. The last larval instar of P. denticulatum is distinct from those of other species by lacking cephalic rugosity and spinning cocoons tapered in the posterior extremity. P. aureosericeum and P. fumigatum are unique in bearing small lamellae between mandibular teeth.

Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Rio de Janeiro State (Southeast Brazil): new geographic records and remarks on faunal distribution

Aiming to improve the database produced during the project Diversity of the Atlantic Forest of the Rio de Janeiro State, new geographic records of sphecid wasps in Rio de Janeiro State are provided. The sphecid fauna found in the sandy coastal plains, lowland forested areas and highland areas on the Serra dos Orgaos are compared and an estimate of the total number of species of Sphecidae from Rio de Janeiro State is provided.

Last instar larva of Trypoxylon (Trypoxylon) maidli Richards (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), with biological notes on one nest

The last larval instar and the cocoon of Trypoxylon (Trypoxylon) maidli Richards, 1934 are described. This larva is apparently indistinguishable from that of T. clavicerum exiguum Tsuneki, 1956. They can be distinguished from larvae of other species in the subgenus by the following features: integument of body smooth, sensilla on both sensorial area and labrum, and distinct parietal bands. Notes on nesting site and preys from one nest are presented. Eurycoma insigne (Millidge, 1991) (Linyphiidae) and Argiope argentata (Fabricius, 1775) (Araneidae) are reported as preys.

Further observations on the nesting behavior of Penepodium luteipenne (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)

Stereotyped motor patterns related to oviposition and prey transport of the cockroach-hunting solitary wasp Penepodium luteipenne (Fabricius, 1804) are described. Notes on provision, structure and aggregation of the nests are also provided. The fieldwork was carried out in the Biological Station of Santa Lucia, an area covered with Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil.

Description of the last instar larva of Tachysphex inconspicuus (Kirby) (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) from Brazil

The last instar larva of Tachysphex inconspicuus (Kirby, 1890) is described and illustrated. Minute spines on the anterior dorsal annulets of abdominal segments and different types of setae on prothorax and mesothorax are remarkable features observed in the larva of T. inconspicuus which were not reported in previously descriptions of larvae of the genus. Distribution of spines and sensilla on the epipharynx and distribution of setae on head and body seem also useful to distinguish Tachysphex larvae.

Nesting behaviour and larval biology of Sphex opacus Dahlbom (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) from Brazil

Aspects of the nesting behaviour of Sphex opacus Dahlbom, 1845 are presented for the first time, based on observations carried out in a coastal habitat from southeastern Brazil. Larval behaviour and development were studied in laboratorial conditions.

Nesting behaviour and larval biology of Prionyx fervens (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) from Brazil

The nesting behaviour of Prionyx fervens (Linnaeus, 1758) is described, based on one nesting female observed in a coastal environment from southeastern Brazil. One prey bearing a wasps egg was created in laboratorial conditions and aspects of the larval behaviour and development are described. Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838) (Caelifera, Acrididae) was found as prey.

Description of the last instar larva of Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) albitarse Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) from Brazil

The last instar larva of Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) albitarse Fabricius, 1804 is described and illustrated, based on one specimen collected in southeastern Brazil. This larva can be distinguished from other described larvae of the subgenus Trypargilum Richards, 1934 for the following combination of features: integument of the body with spines; labrum and epipharynx with sensillae; medio-apical and latero-basal portions of the epipharynx devoid of spines.

Last instar larva of Microstigmus nigrophthalmus Melo (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Pemphredoninae), with notes on biology

The last instar larva of Microstigmus nigrophthalmus Melo, 1992 is described. It markedly differs from that of M. comes Krombein, 1967 the only other species in the genus whose mature larva have been described, for features as follows: presence of spinnerets; setae on the labrum, maxillae and labium; mandibles with tridentate apex and a bidentate lateral projection; lack of the conical supranal processo Notes on habitat, structure, and content of nests are also presented.