Post-embryonic Development of Mischocyttarus latior (Fox) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Abstract

Mischocyttarus latior (Fox) occurs in Bolivia and in Brazil and has been recorded in Cerrado areas from southeast Brazil. The objectives of the present study were to describe the immature stages of M. latior, determine the development time of the immature stages and determine which factors affect its duration. Daily mappings were performed from March 1994 to August 1995 in 22 nests. Two nests were also collected and dissected to characterize immatures. Larvae presented five instars and unlike most Mischocyttarus, M. latior has only a single lobe on the abdominal sternite, which is vestigial in third instar, emergent in fourth instar and fully developed in the fifth instar larvae. The mean duration of the immature stages (from egg laying to adult emergence), was 67.38 ± 9.41 days, a longer period than the total duration of the immature stages of other previously studied species. The development time of the immatures was variable, depending on the colony development stage, with development times being quicker in pre-emergence colonies.

External Morphology of Immatures of Mischocyttarus nomurae Richards (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) during the Post-embryonic Development

“…This is similar to the situation observed with M. cassununga (von Ihering) (Giannotti & Fieri, 1991), M. drewseni Saussure (Giannotti & Trevisoli, 1993), and M. latior (Fox) (Cecílio et al, 2015). Other species of other genera likewise follow this pattern, such as Agelaia Lepeletier (Giannotti, 1988), Brachygastra Perty (Machado et al, 1988), Polistes Latreille (Giannotti, 1995;1997;Prezoto & Gobbi, 2005), Polybia Lepeletier (Tech & Machado, 1989;Carvalho & Silva, 1975;Solis et al, 2012), and Protopolybia Ducke (Silveira, 1994).…”

“…The 1 st instar larvae differed in width from the eggs, being smaller (p<0.0001; Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Flignertest) ( Table 1, Fig 1). This pattern was similar to that reported for P. lanio (Fabricius) (Giannotti, 1995) and differed from three other species of the genus that showed 1 st instar larvae with dimensions similar to egg diameters: M. cassununga (Giannotti & Fieri, 1991), M. drewseni (Giannotti & Trevisoli, 1993), and M. latior (Cecílio et al, 2015). The eggs were attached either to the side wall of the cell (Giannotti & Silva, 1993), or at the angle formed between two walls (Giannotti, 1995 andPrezoto andGobbi, 2005).…”

“…The highest rate, between L1 and L2, is similar to that observed in M. latior (Cecílio et al, 2015). The average growth rate is in accordance with Dyar's rule.…”

“…The species showed a higher average growth rate than the other species of the genus. The ascending order of growth was:1.37 in M. latior (Cecílio et al, 2015), 1.38 in M. drewseni (Giannotti & Trevisoli, 1993), 1.42 in M. atramentarius and M. cassununga (Silva, 1984;Giannotti & Fieri 1991, respectively), and 1.46 in M. extinctus (Raposo-Filho, 1981).…”

“…Dias-Filho (1975) studied the 5 th instar larvae of several wasp genera and characterized six species of the genus as having the labrum twice as wide as the mentum, tentorial pits located below the level of the antennae, and mandibles ending in a fine, single, curved tooth. Most of the species studied showed larvae with five instars (Giannotti & Fieri 1991;Giannotti & Trevisoli 1993;Cecílio et al, 2015) and two showed four instars (Raposo-Filho, 1981;Silva, 1984).…”