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Sphex opacus Dahlbom, 1845 Last instar larva (Figs 7���12) Head: Heigth 1.4 mm, width 1.3 mm. Coronal suture short, forming wide notch. Cephalic rugosity absent. Parietal bands brown; 400 mm long, about 15 mm wide. Antennal orbits light brown; subcircular; about 48 mm in diameter. Antennal and frontal concavities brown; clypeal concavity shallower, lighter brown. Coronal and frontal areas without punctures or setae. Epistomal suture indistinct; clypeal area with about 15 punctures; setae absent. Anterior tentorial arms, pleurostoma, and hypostoma brown. Mouthparts: Labrum bilobed; 280 mm in height, 750 mm wide; inferior and superior margins brown; with about 60 punctures (maximum diameter 8 mm) and 20 basiconic sensillae (4���6 mm in diameter); setae absent. Epipharynx with spines (up to 13 mm long and and 6 mm wide) in marginal, lateral, and median portions, small and scarcer toward the base, spines in median portion facing to base of labrum; sensorial areas with brown dots, with 4/6 basiconic sensillae; marginal band light brown with about seven basiconic sencillae. Mandibles dark brown; 750 mm long; basal portion with six punctures (diameter about 8 mm); setae absent; with four teeth, basal one smaller, teeth gradually larger toward the apex; in inner view mandible is wedge-shaped, inward curved apically, teeth aligned on arc. Maxillae without pigmented areas with few lateral setae (maximum length about 10 mm); maxillary palpi 70 mm long and 55 mm wide; galeae 90 mm long and 65 mm wide; lacinial areas with not curved spines, up to 10 mm long and about 2 mm wide. Labium brown in superior margin and lateral portions; dorsal and marginal portions poorly roughed; labial palpi 75 mm long and 43 mm wide; labial projection of spinneret brown, 580 mm wide, margin with fringe of spines. Peritreme externally without ornamentation. Spines of the opening of the atrium to the sub-atrium cylindrical, with small denticles. Body: Greyish white. Dorsiventrally flattened; curved. Length 19.5 mm; maximum width 8.5 mm (segment AVI). Dorsal annulets distinct, the posteriorly prominent, not continuous with pleural lobes. Intersegmental lines distinct. Pleural lobes poorly developed on thorax, prominent, joined laterally forming a distinct band continuous with abdomen. Diameter of spiracles: segments TII���TIII = 103 mm; segments AI to AX = 163 mm; spiracular depressions approximately circular, well defined on abdomen, absent on thorax., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2020, Morphological studies on the last instar larvae of three South American species of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 259-265 in Zootaxa 4885 (2) on pages 262-263, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.2.7, http://zenodo.org/record/4296596

Sceliphron fistularium (Dahlbom, 1843) Last instar larva (Figures 3–19) Head capsule. Height 2.6 mm; width 2.8 mm. Parietal bands pigmented; 600 µm long, about 8 µm wide. Antennal orbits pigmented; oval; 105 µm long, 115 µm wide. Coronal concavity not distinct; frontal and antennal concavities developed, not pigmented; clypeal concavities shallower, light brown. Coronal area strongly rugose; with 10 punctures (7–8 µm in diameter) and about five setae (15–20 µm long). Frontal area with eight punctures (about 7 µm in diameter) and 13 setae (12–17 µm long). Genal areas with 25 / 36 punctures (about 6 µm in diameter) and 7 / 6 setae (9–20 µm long). Epistomal suture ill defined. Clypeal area with 14 punctures and 25 setae (13–63 µm long); basal portion strongly papillose. Anterior tentorial arms, pleurostoma and hypostoma light brown. Mouthparts. Labrum strongly bilobed, 370 µm in height and 540 µm wide; with about 50 punctures (7 µm in diameter) and 30 setae (7–28 µm long, about 2 µm in diameter); margin with 8 sensorial cones, 12 µm long and about 13 µm wide. Epipharynx covered with spines (up to 10 µm long, mostly shorter than 7 µm); spines on lateral portion, a few overlapped, oriented toward margin; spines on marginal portion oriented toward midline; spines on central portion denser, oriented toward base; sensory area with two basiconic sensilla on brown cones. Mandible dark brown, 660 µm long; second mandibular teeth larger and apical; basal portion with 10 punctures (6–7 µm in diameter). Maxilla with brown apical annulets; lateral and ventral portions with about 15 setae (10–30 µm long and about 2 µm wide); small spines on the dorsal portion; maxillary palpus 103 µm long and 85 µm wide; galea 125 µm long and 80 µm wide; lacinial area with spines (2–7 µm long). Labium brown in superior margin and lateral portion; 540 µm wide; dorsal and marginal portions papillose; ventral portion with setae (up to 14 µm long); labial palpi 70 µm long and 70 µm wide; labial projection 1.2 mm wide. Body. Intense yellow. Dorsoventrally flattened; curved. Length 16 mm. Prothorax with two unpigmented callosities. Intersegmental lines distinct. Dorsal annulets developed on thorax; few distinct on abdomen. Pleural lobes indistinct on thorax, rounded and isolated, not forming continuous band on abdomen, continuous with pleural lobes. Integument partially covered by small spines; prothoracic callosities without spine, with setae (up to 38 µm long). Spiracles brown; 160 µm in diameter; spiracular depression absent. Remarkable features visible only with scanning electron micrographs Clypeus apically rugose (Figure 15). Labrum with two kinds of small sensillae (Figures 13, 14). Epipharynx with sensillae at base (Figure 17). Labium strongly rugose on apical and frontal portions (Figures 8, 10 and 11), smooth basally (Figure 11); median furrow on dorsal portion (Figure 10); lips of spinnerets with rows of papillae on the external faces (Figure 11) and along apical margins (Figure 12); internal faces with rows of shorter papillae (Figure 12). Comparison among Sceliphron species based on larvae and a review of larval characters in Sceliphrinae The larvae of Sceliphron herein described are in general similar to those of other species of the genus (see Evans & Li 1956; Grandi 1961; Iida 1969; Asís et al. 1989); larval features that sharply distinguish species of Sceliphron were not clearly defined to date. The larvae of Sceliphron are also in general similar to those of the related genus Chalybion, as described by Evans and Lin (1956) and Tormos et al. (2006), even though the specimen of C. femoratum (Fabricius, 1781) described by the latter authors is quite distinct in several features from other described larvae of Sceliphrinae. Indeed, the paper by Tormos et al. (2006) gives rise to important doubts on generic definition of Chalybion based on larvae. Some characters that could be useful to the systematic of Sceliphron are reviewed below. A summary on morphometric features of larval Sceliphrinae is provided in Tables 1–4, in order to encourage future authors to include detailed measurements on descriptions of larval sphecids. Shape of the head One must be cautious to analyse the shape of the head of larval apoid wasps based on published illustration, because different methodologies used to study the specimens by the distinct authors can influence the illustrations and the measurements. Anyway, Buys (2004) studied several larvae of Podium, Penepodium, Ammophila, Sphex and Prionyx using an uniform technique of preparation and observation and found that genal areas of larval Sceliphron, especially of S. fistularium, tend to be more prominent that those of larvae of other genera (see Figure 1), a feature that is numerically reflected by the relation between the head width and labrum width (Table 1). The head of the examined larvae of Sceliphron are similar to those of the most of the Sceliphrinae in being a few wider than longer (compares Tables 1 and 2). On the other hand, Podium rufipes (Evans and Lin, 1956) and especially Chalybion femoratum (Tormos et al. 2006) are exceptions in having the larval head higher than wide (Table 1). Rugosity on the top and sides of the head The larvae of S. asiaticum and S. fistularium have the top and sides of the head roughened, similarly to the larvae of other species of the genus (see Evans & Lin 1956; Iida 1969; Asís et al. 1989, fig. 2). Among sphecid larvae, similar rugosity on the head has been found only in the larvae of the Sceliphrinae (e.g. Evans & Lin 1956; Buys 2001), apparently more intensely in larvae of Chalybion californicum (Saussure, 1867) (Evans and Lin 1956). Therefore, rugosity in the top of the head capsule could be used as a distinctive feature of the larvae of Sceliphrinae, although Tormos et al. (2006) have found that larvae of C. femoratum have the convexities on the top and sides of the cephalic capsule almost indiscernible. Shape of the mandibles The mandibles of Sceliphron are apparently similar to those of Chalybion illustrated by Evans and Lin (1956) and Tormos et al. (2006), but are quite distinct to those of Podium (Buys et al. 2004) and Penepodium (Buys 2001, 2006) and from other sphecids (e.g. Evans & Lin 1956). They seem to be relatively shorter and stouter, apparently in most part because of the development and apical position of the second mandibular tooth. In the mandibles of other Sceliphrinae, as well of other sphecids in general, the first mandibular tooth is larger and apical (Evans & Lin 1956; Buys 2001; Buys et al. 2004). Papillae on spinnerets Papillae on the spinnerets have rarely been included in morphological descriptions of sphecid larvae, but possibly may be a widespread feature among Apoidea. All the larval apoid wasps and bees that I have examined to date have rows of papillae in the spinnerets. The papillae are always organized in parallel rows, but the structure and density of the papillae is very different between species; for example, Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith, 1874 (Apidae) has apically rounded papillae on the spinnerets (Buys 2005) and Ampulex compressa (Fabricius, 1781) (Ampulicidae) has spatulated papillae (Buys 2007). Size of setae on the head The setae on the head of larval Sceliphron are not distinctly longer than those of other Sceliphrinae (Tables 3 and 4). Evans and Lin (1956, p. 139) remarked that larvae of Podium differ from those of Sceliphron and Chalybion in having the apical part of the labrum with long setae protruding from it. However, this feature apparently is more related to the distribution of the setae than to its length. Length of the labial palpi and galeae The labial palpi tend to be as long as wide in the majority of the Sceliphrinae larvae (Table 2). On the other hand, the maxillary palpi and the galeae are longer than wide in all known larvae of Sceliphrinae (Table 2). Body colour Among Sphecidae, an intense yellow body, as observed in both of the examined Sceliphron species, was observed only in the genus Prionyx (Sphecinae) by Buys (2011). This author observed intense yellow colour in larvae of the two species of Prionyx he examined, but larvae of this genus are promptly distinguished in also having reddish coloration in parts of the body. Buys (2011) discussed the necessity of observing living or freshly killed larvae to accurately describe the colour. Alive, the larva of Penepodium luteipenne is pale yellowish (Buys 2001, 2004). Comments on scanning electronic micrographs of S. fistularium Some characters visible only with scanning electron microscopy seem to be useful to the systematic of Sceliphrinae, for example: (1) rows of papillae on spinnerets; (2) median furrow dorsally on labium; (3) distinct types of apical sensillae on labial palpi; and (4) galeae. However, the scarce use of this microscopy technique in Sphecidae to date does not allow a widely comparative discussion., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2013, Morphology of the last instar larvae of Sceliphron asiaticum (Linnaeus, 1758) and S. fistularium (Dahlbom, 1843), with a review on larval characters in Sceliphrinae (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), pp. 375-386 in Journal of Natural History 48 (7 - 8) on pages 378-385, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.802385, http://zenodo.org/record/4632161, {"references":["Grandi G. 1961. Studi di un entomologo sugli imenotteri superiori. Bolletino dell'Instituto di Entomologia dell'Universita di Bologna, 25; p. 1 - 659.","Iida T. 1969. Contributions to the knowledge of the sphecid larvae in Japan (Hymenoptera) Part I. Kontyu. 37: 272 - 279.","Asis JD, Gayubo SF, Tormos J. 1989. Descripcion de la larva madura de Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Misc Zool. 13: 105 - 108.","Evans HE, Lin CS. 1956. Studies on the larvae of digger wasps (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Part I: Sphecinae. Trans Am Entomol Soc. 81: 131 - 153, pls. I-VIII.","Tormos J, Polidori C, Asis JP. 2006. Description of prepupa of Chalybion femoratum (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), with comments on larval characters in the genus. Fla Entomol. 89: 388 - 390.","Buys SC. 2001. Last instar larva of Penepodium dubium (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Rev Biol Trop. 49: 327 - 330.","Buys SC. 2006. Observations on the biology and description of the last instar larva of Penepodium latro (Kohl, 1902) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Arq Mus Nac. 64: 121 - 124.","Buys SC, Morato EF, Garofalo CA. 2004. Description of the immature instars of three species of Podium Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) from Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 21: 73 - 77.","Buys SC. 2005. Morphological studies on the last instar larva of Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith from Brazil (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Anthophoridae). Spixiana. 28: 139 - 143.","Buys SC. 2007. Morphological studies on the last instar larva of Ampulex compressa (Fabricius) from Brazil (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Ampulicidae). Spixiana. 30: 33 - 37.","Buys SC. 2011. Morphology of the last instar larvae of Prionyx thomae (Fabricius, 1775) and P. fervens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Spixiana. 34: 225 - 230."]}

Isodontia costipennisSpinola 1851 (Figure 4) Description External capsule. Whitish, translucent; malleable, fragile; nipple-like projection on basal extremity, with terminal orifice; layer of white silken threads sparsely distributed on external surface. Externally covered by vegetal debris. Internal capsule. Brown; texture brittle, internal surface brilliant, external surface opaque, with white pubescence. Nipple-like projection on basal extremity, with terminal orifice. Meconium isolated by a silken layer. Grains of uric acid on basal extremity, the most cylindrical. Material examined Brazil: Minas Gerais: Lavras: Reserva Biol��gica de Unilavras Boqueir��o, F. Frieiro-Costa, 1 April 2014. Six cocoons collected from wood trap-nest., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on pages 2940-2942, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759

Eremnophila binodis(Fabricius, 1798) (Figure 7) Description External capsule. Light brown, brilliant on both surfaces; malleable; 26 mm long, about 10 mm wide; with nipple-like projections on both apical extremities; golden silken threads on external spread for entire external surface. Internal capsule. Approximately cylindrical, apical half wider; apical and basal extremities rounded; nipple-like projections on both apical extremities. About 22 mm long and 6 mm wide; external surface completely covered by a dense white cotton-like silken layer, except the nipple-like projections; internal surface brown, brilliant; grains of uric acid adhered to basal end. Material examined Brazil: Rio de Janeiro: Silva Jardim: Biological Reserve of Po��o das Antas, Buys, S.B. leg., 18 January 2001: one cocoon., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2944, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759

Penepodium luteipenne(Fabricius, 1804) (Figure 2) Description One capsule. Approximately claviform, apical portion rounded; basal portion with nipplelike projection bearing a terminal orifice. About 22 mm in length (excluding the meconium), 5 mm in maximum width. Texture like brittle paper. Brown; basal and apical portions darker. External surface opaque, with white pubescence; internal surface shiny. Meconium voided through the terminal orifice of the basal mammiform projection. Grains of uric acid loose inside the lumen, rare grains were found fixed to the internal walls at the basal portions. Remarks Williams (1928a) and Buys [(2001, as Penepodium dubium (Taschenberg, 1869)] briefly described and illustrated the cocoon of Penepodium luteipenne, Garcia and Adis (1993) provided a photograph of P. gorianum (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845) cocoon. All these descriptions and illustrations are in accordance with the description herein presented., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2939, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759, {"references":["Williams FX. 1928 a. The sphecid wasp, Podalonia violaceipennis (Lep.). Proc Hawaiian Entomol Soc. 7: 163.","Garcia MVB, Adis J. 1993. On the biology of Penepodium goryanum (Lepeletier) in wooden trap-nests (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Proc Entomol Soc Wash. 95: 547 - 553."]}

Podium fumigatum(Perty, 1833) Description Identical to that of P. denticulatum. Material examined Brazil: State of Acre: Senador Guiomard (Reserva Catuaba, area belonging to the Universidade Federal do Acre, 10��04 �� S, 67��36 �� W); E.F. Morato leg. (collected with trapnests), 18 September 2002: one cocoon. Remarks Buys et al. (2004) briefly described the cocoons of P. denticulatum and P. fumigatum, and Genaro (1994) illustrated the cocoon of Podium fulvipes Cresson, 1865. All these descriptions are in accordance with the descriptions herein presented., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2939, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759, {"references":["Buys SC, Morato EF, and Garofalo CA. 2004. Description of the immature instars of three species of Podium Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) from Brazil. Rev Bras Zool. 21: 73 - 77.","Genaro JA. 1994. Inquilinos de Sceliphron assimile, con e nfasis en Podium fulvipes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Sphecidae, Megachilidae). Caribb J Sci. 30: 268 - 270."]}

Sphex dorsalisLepeletier, 1845 Description External capsule. 23 mm long, 8 mm wide. Other features as in S. opacus. Material examined Brazil: Rio de Janeiro: Niter��i, S.C. Buys: four cocoons collected from natural nests., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2940, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759

PalmodesKohl, 1890 No Palmodes cocoon has been described in detail. Evans and West-Eberhard (1970) illustrated a cocoon of Palmodes laeviventris (Cresson, 1865), fusiform like those of Prionyx., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2943, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759, {"references":["Evans HE, West-Eberhard MJ. 1970. The wasps. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press; p. 265."]}

Prionyx thomae(Fabricius, 1775) (Figure 5) Description External capsule. Fusiform; 17 mm in length, 5 mm in maximum width; brittle, but more malleable than the internal capsule; pale brown, darker in the extremities; internal surface more brilliant, but with layer of stout silken threads; an internal lamellate ridge spiralled from base to apex,forming 10 gyres. Attached to the substratum with a reddish substance expelled by the larva. Adult emerging slit as a transversal regular cut near the apical extremity. Internal capsule. Fusiform; 13 mm in length, 4 mm in maximum width; very brittle; dark brown, silken threads of the wall quite uniform in thickness, without visible white pubescence, but even so, internal surface more shiny than external; an orifice in basal extremity; meconium separated from the lumen by a layer of silken threads. Both extremities with pores at the end of discrete nipple-like projections; pores obturated by silken threads. Portions of uric acid in the basal extremity, grains not defined. Material examined Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Maric�� (Restinga de Barra de Maric��), S.C. Buys coll.: one cocoon reared in the laboratory from a prey-bearing egg collected from the nest., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2942, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759

Genus StangeelaMenke, 1962 Janvier (1926) commented that cocoons of S. cyaniventris (Gu �� rin-M �� neville, 1831) have three similar concentric layers, the external layer being thinner. This multicapsuled structure strongly supports a closely relationship of this little-known genus to the monophyletic group Sphecinae + Ammphilinae., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2944, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759, {"references":["Janvier H. 1926. Observaciones entomolojicas. Los Esfexos de Chile (Hymenoptera). Anal Univ Chile (Serie 2). 4: 5 - 69."]}

Genus PodaloniaSpinola, 1853 No Podalonia cocoon has been described in detail. Williams (1928b) commented that the cocoon of Podalonia violaceipennis (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845) has a nipplelike extension from the base, but he did not illustrate this feature. Harris (2001) described and provided a photograph of a Podalonia tydei suspiciosa (F. Smith, 1856) cocoon, which has two capsules, the external one loosely constructed, light brown and externally shiny, the internal one more compacted., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2945, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759, {"references":["Williams FX. 1928 b. Studies in tropical wasps - their hosts and associates (with descriptions of new species). Reports of work of the experiment station of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association. Entomol Ser. 19: 1 - 179.","Harris AC. 2001. Nesting behaviour of Podalonia tydei suspiciosa (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Sphecidae; Sphecinae) at Castlecliff Beach, Wanganui, with a description of the mature larva. N Z Entomol. 24: 57 - 62. doi: 10.1080 / 00779962.2001.9722082"]}

Genus TrigonopsisPerty, 1833 No Trigonopsis cocoon has been described in detail. Vardy (1978) provided drawings of the cocoons of Trigonopsis cyclocephalus F. Smith, 1873 and T. violascens (Dalla Torre, 1897) and Arl �� (1933), of Trigonopsis rufiventris (Fabricius, 1804). From these illustrations one can recognise that (1) apparently the cocoons have only one capsule, like those of Podium, Penepodium and Sceliphron; (2) there are no nipple-projections on the extremities; (3) the shape is similar to that of Podium and Sceliphron., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2939, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759, {"references":["Vardy CR. 1978. A revision of the Neotropical wasp genus Trigonopsis Perty (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Bull Br Mus Nat Hist Entomol. 37: 117 - 152."]}

Genus ChlorionLatreille, 1802 No Chlorion cocoon has been described in detail. Evans (1964, p. 244) studied cocoons of C. aerarium Patton, 1879 and commented that they ���were composed of a single layer of brittle, dark brown, transversely ribbed parchment-like material��� and that they were very similar to those of Sceliphron., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2936, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759, {"references":["Evans HE. 1964. Further studies on the larvae of digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Trans Am Entomol Soc. 90: 235 - 299 + pls VIII - XIX."]}

Genus ChalybionDahlbom, 1843 Chalybion has the most complex and differentiated cocoon among genera of Sceliphrinae, apparently due to the retention of ancestral traits, as discussed below. Rau (1915) commented that cocoons of C. californicum are similar to those of Sceliphorn, but have an additional external silken wall, which is a feature not observed in other Sceliphrinae. Pham (2017, fig. 1d) illustrated a cocoon of Chalybion malignum (Kohl, 1906) in which the external layer of silk is denser than observed in species of Sceliphron. Ohl and H��hn (2011, fig. 4d) provided a photograph of a Chalibyon sulawesii Ohl, 2011 cocoon in which the meconium can be observed placed in a differentiated, somewhat cylindrical, portion of the cocoon���s basal end., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2938, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759, {"references":["Rau P. 1915. The differentiation of the cocoons of Pelopoeus caementarius and Chalybion caeruleum (Hymen.). Psyche. 22: 62 - 63. doi: 10.1155 / 1915 / 37374","Pham PH. 2017. New record of the mud dauber wasp Chalybion malignum (Kohl, 1906) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) from Vietnam with the first information on its nesting biology. Punjab Univ J Zool. 32 (1): 155 - 158.","Ohl M, Hohn P. 2011. Taxonomy, bionomics, and ecology of a new species of the blue mud-dauber wasp genus Chalybion from Sulawesi (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). Zoosyst Evol. 87: 335 - 348. doi: 10.1002 / zoos. 201100011"]}

PodiumdenticulatumF. Smith, 1856 Description One capsule. Approximately claviform, apical portion rounded, basal portion rounded or truncated. Texture like brittle paper. Brown; basal and apical portions darker. External surface opaque, with white pubescence; internal surface shiny. Meconium separated from the lumen by a wall of silken threads and brown substance. Grains of uric acid, loose inside the lumen. Material examined Brazil: S��o Paulo State: City of Ribeir��o Preto (Campus of the Universidade de S��o Paulo, 21.05����� 21.15��S, 47.50����� 47.55��W), C.A. Gar��falo. (collected with trap-nests): four cocoons., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 2935-2949 in Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48) on page 2938, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2036843, http://zenodo.org/record/6351759

Sphex dorsalis Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845 Last instar larva (Fig. 13) Head: Height 770 mm, width 650 mm. Coronal suture short. Parietal bands light brown; about 490 mm long and 25 mm wide. Antennal orbits not pigmented; approximately circular; 55 mm in diameter. Frontal concavities developed; antennal concavities reduced, not pigmented; clypeal concavities indistinct. Genal area with 25/27 punctures; without setae. Frontal area with about 10 punctures; without setae. Clypeal area with about 30 punctures and nine setae (6���8 mm long). Anterior tentorial arms not pigmented, pleurostoma and hypostoma lightly pigmented. Mouthparts: Labrum bilobed; 220 mm in height and 560 mm in width; with about 50 punctures; setae absent. Epipharynx with spines on lateral, basal and median portions, spines up to 18 mm long; spines on median portion facing to base of labrum; marginal pigmented band about 25 mm in maximum width, with 20 sensilla; sensorial areas not pigmented, with 5 sensilla (5���8 mm in diameter). Mandibles 600 mm long; basal portion with four punctures; similar in shape to Sphex opacus. Maxillae without pigmented portions; with few inconspicuous setae (up to 13 mm long) on lateral and ventral portions; basal area with spines and short flattened papillae, each with two marginal spines (spines 2���5 mm long); maxillary palpi 63 mm wide and 40 mm long; galeae 63 mm wide and 75 mm long; lacinial area with spines (up to 8 mm long). Labium 550 mm wide; brown in lateral portions; dorsal portion slightly papillose; ventral portion with about 15 setae (8���15 mm long); labial palpi 45 mm wide, 50 mm long; labial projection of spinnerets unpigmented. Body: Greyish white. Dorsiventrally flattened; curved. Length about 13 mm; maximum width 4.5 mm (segment AVI). Similar in shape to Sphex opacus, but spiracular depression indistinct. It was not possible to measure the diameter of the spiracles., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2020, Morphological studies on the last instar larvae of three South American species of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 259-265 in Zootaxa 4885 (2) on pages 263-264, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.2.7, http://zenodo.org/record/4296596

Description of Sphecidae based on the last instar larva (Figs 2���25) Diagnosis. Besides the apomorphic features, the last instar larvae of Sphecidae are distinct from those of other families of Aculeate Hymenoptera for the following combination of features: integument of the body with small isolated setae and, at least partially, with small spines; antennal orbits with three basiconic sensilla; antennal papillae absent; labrum bilobed; epipharynx with acute spines on the lateral, basal, and median portions; mandibles usually with pores at the base, almost always with four teeth, rarely with three teeth; spinnerets formed by a transversal slit with a labial projection more or less uniform in width; anus terminal. Head. Coronal suture distinct. Parietal bands well developed and almost always brown (Fig. 6). Antennal orbits usually light brown; circular or oval in shape; with three small basiconic sensilla (Figs 8, 21). Cephalic rugosity sometimes present, stronger in Sceliphron and Chalybion (Fig. 6). Punctures and spines, in general, abundant on genal areas and almost always present in the clypeal, coronal and frontal areas. Apparently, there is no symmetric pattern of distribution of the setae or punctures on the head. Pairs of antennal and clypeal concavities usually present; integument on the bottom of the concavities usually brown; more rarely a coronal concavity also distinct. Epistomal suture indistinct or poorly developed; margin of the clypeus usually straight, but sometimes tending to be bilobed or with the corners somewhat expanded (Fig. 21). Posterior thickness of the cephalic capsule not pigmented; anterior tentorial arms, pleurostoma and hypostoma usually brown. Mouthparts. Labrum strongly bilobed; with punctures and setae (Figs 3, 7); basiconic sensilla in the margin (Figs 15, 17); Sceliphrinae and Chloriontinae with sensorial cones in margin (Figs 3, 7, 15, 17). Epipharynx with spines on the lateral, marginal and median portions; the lateral spines facing the apex and gradually facing the midline in direction to the marginal portion, in the median portion the spines are directed to the base (Fig. 23); one pair of sensorial areas often partially pigmented, with basiconic sensillae (Figs 11, 22, 23); Sphecinae and Ammophilinae with a brown marginal band bearing basiconic sensilla (Fig. 11). Mandibles brown, darker in the apical half and in the internal and external mandibular articulations (Fig. 12); usually with four teeth (Figs 5, 12), Podalonia spp. and Prionyx fervens with three mandibular teeth; mandible with small denticles on the external surface in Ammophilinae (Fig. 12); basal area laterally with punctures and rarely with small setae (Fig. 4). Maxillae usually with setae in the basal external portion; inner basal portion with papillae serrated in the margin (Fig. 18); a brown band near to the apex; lacinial area usually densely covered with usually curved spines facing the mouth (Fig. 16); maxillary palpus brownish and approximately conical, apex rounded with two sensillae (Fig. 10); galea brownish, approximately conical, longer than maxillary palpus, apical portion rounded, with two sensillae (Fig. 10). Labium usually with brown areas laterally and in the superior margin; dorsal portion smooth or with papillae; labial palpus brownish, approximately conical, usually little longer than wide, with two sub-apical sensilla (Figs 2, 9); spinnerets formed by a transversal slit, protected by a labial projection approximately uniform in width, rarely brownish, with rows of digitiform or spiniform papillae in the margin (Figs 15, 19, 20). Body. White, sometimes greyish or yellowish, also intense yellow or green, but always the colour of the larvae is due to the internal structures; the green colour is more evident in the early instars of Ammophilinae and of some Sphecinae, which also can be lightly reddish or somewhat pink; reddish parts, especially in the thorax, are present in Prionyx. Integument rarely with brownish areas in stronger sclerotized portions. Without prolegs. Dorsoventrally compressed, somewhat rounded dorsally and flattened ventrally; more rarely cylindrical; more or less gradually tapered toward the extremities and usually broader in the fifth or in the sixth abdominal segment. Pleural lobes almost always indistinct in the thorax, well developed in the abdominal segments I to IX, absent in the abdominal segment X; isolated or laterally joined, forming a distinct continuous band. Integument covered with minute spines, at least sometimes there are folds in the integument where the spines are found; spines widely distributed on the body or restricted to some portions, sometimes isolated and scarce. Sub-integumentary granules of uric acid usually indistinct in the thorax, but visible in the abdominal segments I to X, usually less abundant in the abdominal segment X. Sceliphrinae and Chlriontinae with one to three pairs of callosities dorsal or dorsal-laterally on the prothorax. Anus a transversal slit, terminal or sub-terminal. Spiracles on thoracic segments II and III and abdominal segments I to VIII; atrium brownish; globose; peritremes not pigmented, sometimes with ornamentations (visible with S.E.M.) (Figs 13, 24); Sceliphrinae with all the spiracles about the same diameter; Sphecinae and Ammophilinae with spiracles of segments TII���TIII, and sometimes those of the segment AI, with smaller diameter than the other spiracles; opening of the atrium to the sub-atrium with branched spines of variable shapes (Figs 13, 14, 24, 25); walls of the atrium internally with ridges forming polygonal reticulation or concentric rings., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2020, A study on taxonomy and phylogeny of immature stages of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pp. 78-90 in Zootaxa 4869 (1) on pages 83-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4869.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4418358

The cocoon morphology of the cockroach-hunting apoid wasp Ampulex compressa (Fabricius, 1781) (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae) is described, based on five cocoons examined under binocular microscope. This is the first detailed description of cocoons of Ampulicidae. The examined material was obtained from a stock of wasps maintained in laboratorial conditions, using specimens of Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus, 1758) (Blattaria: Blattidae) as host. The cocoon is constructed within the exoskeleton of the host and has three capsules. The external and middle capsules are formed by structurally distinct types of silken threads, whereas the internal capsule is formed by a brittle substance, without distinguishable silken threads. The cocoons of A. compressa are morphologically distinct from those of the related families Sphecidae and Crabronidae and, perhaps, its complex and reinforced structure represents a kind of mechanic barrier that function in association with the antimicrobial oral secretions of the larvae as a protection against antagonistic microbes. Keywords Immature stage, larvae, life history, taxonomy, biology, Sphecidae, Crabronidae., Contributions to Entomology = Beiträge zur Entomologie, Bd. 65 Nr. 2 (2015)

The last instar larva of Penepodium dubium is described from southeastern Brazil. This is the first description of an immature stage of the genus Penepodium. The larva of P. dubium is similar to those of Podium, but it can be distinguished from the species of this genus by the presence of depressions on the front and clypeus, and lack of brownish blotched areas on the head. The cocoon of Penepodium seems to be unique among those of Sceliphrini in bearing a nipple-like projection at one end. The last instar larva of Penepodium dubium is described from southeastern Brazil. This is the first description of an immature stage of the genus Penepodium. The larva of P. dubium is similar to those of Podium, but it can be distinguished from the species of this genus by the presence of depressions on the front and clypeus, and lack of brownish blotched areas on the head. The cocoon of Penepodium seems to be unique among those of Sceliphrini in bearing a nipple-like projection at one end.

Buys, Sandor Christiano (2013): Morphology of the last instar larvae of Sceliphron asiaticum (Linnaeus, 1758) and S. fistularium (Dahlbom, 1843), with a review on larval characters in Sceliphrinae (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Journal of Natural History 48 (7-8): 375-386, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.802385, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2013.802385

Aspects of the nesting behaviour, male territoriality and larval development of the solitary caterpillar-hunting wasp Eremnophila binodis (Fabricius) are described, based on observations carried out in the Biological Reserve of Poço das Antas, an area covered by Atlantic Tropical rain forest in southeastern Brazil. Keywords Biology, territorial behaviour, immature, solitary wasp, Ammophilini., Contributions to Entomology = Beiträge zur Entomologie, Bd. 59 Nr. 2 (2009)

Buys, Sandor Christiano (2009): Reproductive behaviour and larval development of Prionyx thomae (F ) from Brazil (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 59 (2): 311-317, DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.59.2.311-317, URL: https://www.contributions-to-entomology.org/article/view/1754

The nesting behaviour of Hoplisoides vespoides (Smith, 1873) is described based on observations carried out in southeastern Brazil. Notes on mimetic relationships of this species with vespid wasps and with a stratomyid fly are also provided. Umbonia spinosa (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) is reported as prey. Keywords Wasp, biology, reproduction, mimicry, Umbonia spinosa, Hoplitimyia mutabilis., Contributions to Entomology = Beiträge zur Entomologie, Bd. 58 Nr. 1 (2008)

Submitted by Alberto Vieira (martins_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2017-10-18T22:38:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 640229.pdf: 14581701 bytes, checksum: 4146ad23cbc8ca9fca7bb61291b5f8d3 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-18T22:38:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 640229.pdf: 14581701 bytes, checksum: 4146ad23cbc8ca9fca7bb61291b5f8d3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-04 A subfamília Sphecinae é composta por 19 gêneros e aproximadamente 700 espécies amplamente distribuídas pelo mundo. Este grupo apresenta padrões comportamentais muito complexos e diversos. O objetivo do presente trabalho é estudar comparativamente a morfologia de imaturos e o comportamento de nidificação de espécies de Sphecinae, de modo a contribuir para o entendimento da filogenia do grupo e discutir hipóteses relacionadas à evolução de padrões comportamentais. Foi formulada uma chave para gêneros e agrupamentos supra-genéricos de Sphecinae baseada nas larvas de último estádio, casulo e aspectos biológicos. É apresentada uma descrição da subfamília e diagnoses das tribos e subtribos baseadas nos imaturos. Foram levantados 29 caracteres de larva, dois caracteres de ovo e quatro caracteres de casulo que foram submetidos a uma análise cladística. Devido a faltar muitos dados de ovo e casulo na matriz de caracteres, foram feitas separadamente duas análises, uma com caracteres larvais e outra combinando caracteres das larvas, ovos e casulos. A análise de parcimônia baseada apenas em caracteres larvais gerou 24 árvores com igual parcimônia máxima (comprimento = 45; índice de consistência = 0,73; índice de retenção = 0,89; índice de consistência reescalonado = 0,65) e a análise combinada de caracteres de larva, ovo e casulo gerou 384 árvores com igual parcimônia IV máxima ( comprimento = 52; índice de consistência = O, 75; índice de retenção = 0,89; índice de consistência reescalonado = 0,65). A topologia de ambas as análises é idêntica. A filogenia baseada em morfologia de imaturos é inteiramente congruente com a obtida a partir de adultos. Sphecinae, Sceliphrini, Sceliphrina, Sphecini + Ammophilini, Prionychina e Ammophilini são corroborados como linhagens monofiléticas por apomorfias das larvas e, em alguns casos, de casulos. O comportamento de seis espécies Sphecinae das tribos Sphecini e Ammophilini é descrito: Sphex opacus, S. dorsalis, Prionyx thomae, P. fen,ens, Ammophila sp. l e Eremnophila binodis. Foram utilizados 20 caracteres, a maioria relacionados à construção do ninho e manipulação das presas. Foram geradas 308 árvores com igual parcimônia máxima a partir da matriz de caracteres (comprimento = 34; índice de consistência = 0,73; índice de retenção = 0,86; índice de consistência reescalonado = 0,63). A filogenia baseada em caracteres comportamentais é inteiramente congruente com a baseada em morfologia de adultos e morfologia de imaturos. Baseado no conhecimento sobre filogenia do grupo, são discutidas hipóteses sobre a evolução do comportamento em Sphecinae. The subfamily Sphecinae is composed of 19 genera and about 700 species widespread in the world. This group is very diverse and complex behaviourally. The objective of the present work is comparatively studying the immature morphology and the nesting behaviour of species of Sphecinae, in a way to contribute to the understanding of the phylogeny of the group and discussing about hypotheses related to the evolution of the behavioural pattems. A key to genera and supra-generic categories based on last instar larvae, cocoon, and biological aspects is formulated. A description of the subfamily and diagnoses of the tribes and subtribes based on larvae are presented. Twenty nine characters of larva, two characters of egg, and four characters of cocoon were selected and examined through a cladistics analyses. Due the occurrence of a lot of missing values of egg and cocoon in the characters matrix, two analyses were separately carried out, one only with larval characters and other combined characters of larva, egg, and cocoon. The analyses of parsimony based only in larval characters generates 24 equally most parsimonious trees (length = 45; consistency índex = 0,73; retentíon índex = 0,89; consistency índex rescaled = 0,65) and the analyses combined characters of larva, egg, and cocoon generates 384 equally most parsimonious trees (comprimento = 52; índice de consistência = 0,75; índice de retenção = 0,89; índice de consistência reescalonado = 0,65). The phylogeny based on immature morphology is entirely congruent with those based on adult morphology. Sphecinae, Sceliphrini, Sceliphrina, Sphecini + Ammophilini, Prionychina, and Ammophilini are corroborated as monophyletics lineages by apomorphies of larvae and, in some cases, of cocoons. On the other hand, Chloriontina, Podiina, and Sphecina are not corroborated by apomorphies oflarva or cocoon. The behaviour of six species of Sphecinae in the tribes Sphecini and Ammophilini is described: Sphex opacus; S. dorsalis; Prionyx thomae; P. fervem.; Ammophihila sp. 1; and Eremnophila binodis. Twenty characters, the most related to ncst construction and prey manipulation, are used. Three hundred eight equally most parsimonious trees were generated (length = 34; consistency index = 0,73; retentíon index = 0,86; consistency índex rescaled = 0,63). The phylogeny based on behavioural characters is entirely congruent with those based on adult and larval morphology. Based on the knowledge of the phylogeny ofthe group, hypothesis on the evolution ofthe behaviour in Sphecinae are discussed.