Latest Articles from Journal of Hymenoptera Research Latest 5 Articles from Journal of Hymenoptera Research https://jhr.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 22:14:15 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://jhr.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Journal of Hymenoptera Research https://jhr.pensoft.net/ Brood cells like conifer cones: the peculiar nesting biology of the osmiine bee Hoplitis (Alcidamea) curvipes (Morawitz, 1871) (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/109587/ Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96: 735-750

DOI: 10.3897/jhr.96.109587

Authors: Sergey P. Ivanov, Alexander V. Fateryga, Andreas Müller

Abstract: Two nests of Hoplitis curvipes are described from Apulia (Italy) and Dagestan (Russia). Both nests consisted of two brood cells placed side by side under a stone. The cells were neither attached to each other nor to the substrate. They were constructed from leaf fragments, which were imbricately arranged, forming a cone-like structure; each leaf fragment consisted of a basal part that was masticated to leaf pulp and an apical part that protruded freely from the cell wall. The cell wall was formed by the fusion of the masticated basal parts of the leaf fragments and thus entirely consisted of leaf pulp. The cell was sealed with a closing plug made of pure leaf pulp; a few leaf fragments were glued to its outer surface. The cocoon consisted of two layers: the outer layer was restricted to the anterior portion of the cell and had several longitudinal air-exchange slits on its lateral surface, while the inner layer had an air-exchange orifice in its most anterior dome-shaped top. Results of measurements of brood cell dimensions and contents are provided. The nesting biology of species of the H. curvipes group is discussed.

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Research Article Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:30:09 +0300
Two new Hoplitis species of the subgenus Hoplitis Klug, 1807 (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) and the nesting biology of H. astragali sp. nov. in Dagestan https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/109255/ Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96: 641-656

DOI: 10.3897/jhr.96.109255

Authors: Alexander V. Fateryga, Andreas Müller, Maxim Yu. Proshchalykin

Abstract: Hoplitis astragali sp. nov., a member of the H. monstrabilis species group, and H. dagestanica sp. nov., a member of the H. adunca species group, are described. The former species is known from Dagestan in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, the latter only from Dagestan. Nests of H. astragali are described. Females of this species excavated burrows in a vertical clay cliff, but sometimes chose a horizontal surface for nest excavation, particularly at the entrance of old burrows of Xylocopa olivieri (Apidae). The nest burrows of H. astragali were either sub-vertical or sub-horizontal. The nests were composed of one to three brood cells, an empty vestibule in front of the outermost cell, and a closing plug at the nest entrance made of moistened mud. The inner surface of the cells was covered with a thin wall composed of compact soil, most probably built by the female bee after cell excavation. The pollen loaf was very liquid and had a spherical shape. The egg was deposited on its top. The cocoon consisted of a single thin layer, which uniformly covered the whole inner surface of the cell. There was one generation per year. The prepupae hibernated. Sapyga caucasica (Sapygidae) was recorded in the nests as a kleptoparasite. Both females and males of H. astragali exclusively visited flowers of two species of the genus Astragalus (Fabaceae).

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Research Article Tue, 15 Aug 2023 18:06:01 +0300
A new genus and species of Pristocerinae (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from upper Eocene Baltic amber with a review of conspecific association from insect fossils https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/68658/ Journal of Hymenoptera Research 85: 119-133

DOI: 10.3897/jhr.85.68658

Authors: Carly Melissa Tribull, Madeline V. Pankowski, Wesley Dondoni Colombo

Abstract: A new extinct genus and species of Pristocerinae, †Archeonesia eocena Tribull, Pankowski & Colombo, gen. et. sp. nov., are described from upper Eocene Baltic amber from the Yantarny amber mine in the Kaliningrad region, Russia. Descriptions, remarks, illustrations, and comparisons to all extinct and extant Pristocerinae are provided. †Archeonesia is described as a new genus because neither the male nor the female can be placed in any previously described genera, although the female is most similar to Acrenesia and the male is most similar to Cleistepyris. Rare for Bethylidae, and Hymenoptera in general, this fossil contains both a male and female specimen that we are describing as conspecifics. A brief review from the paleoentomological literature is provided to describe how insect fossils containing evidence of reproductive behavior have been used to associate conspecifics in extinct species.

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Research Article Tue, 31 Aug 2021 17:17:06 +0300
Eupelmus messene Walker, 1839 and E. microzonus Förster, 1860 as parasitoids of Aulacidea hieracii (Bouché, 1834) (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae, Cynipidae) https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/68556/ Journal of Hymenoptera Research 84: 87-102

DOI: 10.3897/jhr.84.68556

Authors: Vladimir E. Gokhman, Matvey I. Nikelshparg

Abstract: In the southeast of European Russia, the gall wasp Aulacidea hieracii (Bouché, 1834) is attacked by ten parasitoid species, including Eupelmus (Eupelmus) microzonus Förster, 1860 and E. (Macroneura) messene Walker, 1839. Although both members of the genus Eupelmus Dalman, 1820 are idiobiont ectoparasitoids, they demonstrate different life-history strategies in respect to many bionomic features. Specifically, E. messene is represented by brachypterous thelytokous females which lay single eggs directly onto the host body. This species can parasitize both concealed and exposed larvae and pupae of A. hieracii, but fails to attack its primary parasitoids. On the contrary, arrhenotokous males and females of E. microzonus are fully winged. These parasitoids usually lay several eggs per host which are placed onto the wall of the host chamber and covered with a particular fibrous substance. E. microzonus never parasitizes pupae or exposed larvae, although it can readily attack concealed larvae of A. hieracii and its primary parasitoids. In addition, hibernating individuals of E. messene undergo obligatory larval diapause, but those of E. microzonus are able to develop without exposure to subzero temperatures. All these data collectively suggest that the former species is highly specialized to exploit A. hieracii as a host, whereas the latter one mostly exhibits the so-called morphotypical specialization. These different strategies allow E. messene and E. microzonus to coexist on the same host species, as a local specialist and a more or less evenly distributed generalist, respectively.

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Research Article Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:00:07 +0300
A further study of the nesting biology of Leptochilus (Neoleptochilus) regulus (de Saussure, 1855) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/66652/ Journal of Hymenoptera Research 84: 75-86

DOI: 10.3897/jhr.84.66652

Authors: Alexander V. Fateryga, Valentina V. Fateryga

Abstract: Two females of Leptochilus regulus (de Saussure, 1855) were observed nesting in reed stalks of a Fabre’s hive serving as a block of trap nests in Crimea, with the timekeeping of all their nesting behaviours. The building material used by the females to separate the nesting cavity into the cells consisted of pellets of dry soil, gravel particles, and small fragments of tree bark, leaves, and thin stems. Females rapidly carried these items collected in 1.0–1.5 m from the nests. They bonded only the last portions of the building material in each “partition” with a very small amount of mud. An additional amount of unbonded building material items was deposited into the nest after sealing the last nest cell. Females hunted exclusively for small larvae of an anobiid beetle (Coleoptera, Anobiidae); they stored 19–37 prey items per cell. Hunting and provisioning occupied the largest portion of the females’ time budget. Duration of hunting flights was different between the females. The nests of both females contained three brood cells. Cocoons of Chrysis ragusae De Stefani, 1888 (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) were found in the nests; females of this cuckoo wasp species were also recorded entering the host nests at the stage of provisioning, acting apparently as inquilines. The cocoon ultrastructure of L. regulus is illustrated and discussed.

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Research Article Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:00:06 +0300