Sceliphron fistularium (Dahlbom, 1843)

Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48), pp. 2935-2949 : 2937

Sceliphron fistularium (Dahlbom, 1843)

( Figure 1 )

Description

One capsule. Approximately cylindrical, about 25 mm in length and 7 mm in maximum width (n = 10), 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 smooth and shiny. Meconium isolated from the lumen by a wall of silken threads and brown substance. Grains of uric acid loose inside the lumen, only rare grains were found fixed internally at the basal portion.

Material examined

Brazil: Rio de Janeiro State: City of Angra dos Reis ( Ilha Grande Island), S.C. Buys: dozens of cocoons collected from natural nests; Rio de Janeiro State: city of Rio de Janeiro (Parque Nacional da Tijuca), S.C. Buys: dozens of cocoons collected from natural nests.

Figures

Figures 1, 2. Cocoon morphology of species of Sceliphrinae. 1, Sceliphron fistularium, 2, Penepodium luteipenne, with the newly emerged adult wasp on the side; (M = meconium).