Annals of the Entomological Society of America

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Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99(3):567-576. 2006
doi: 10.1603/0013-8746(2006)99[567:BABOKH]2.0.CO;2

Biology and Behavior of Kapala (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) Attacking Ectatomma, Gnamptogenys, and Pachycondyla (Formicidae: Ectatomminae and Ponerinae) in Chiapas, Mexico

Gabriela Pérez-Lachauda, John M. Heratyb, Andrew Carmichaelb, and Jean-Paul Lachaudac

aEl Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Apdo. Postal 36, 30700 Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

bDepartment of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521

cCentre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, CNRS-UMR 5169, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 4, France

Abstract

Kapala (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) are among the most frequently collected chalcidoid wasps from the Neotropics, but general information about their host plants, behavior, and life history is scarce. A new species, Kapala izapa n. sp., parasitizing Ectatomma ruidum Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is described from Chiapas, Mexico, with a general account of its biology. Field observations on the behavior of adults of Kapala iridicolor (Cameron), which also attack E. ruidum, Gnamptogenys regularis Mayr, Gnamptogenys sulcata (Fr. Smith), Gnamptogenys striatula Mayr, and Pachycondyla stigma (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), are included. Immature stages of Kapala izapa n. sp. follow the general morphology and behavior described for other eucharitids known to attack Ectatomminae and Ponerinae. More than one parasitoid can complete development on a single host larva. K. iridicolor females were observed laying masses of eggs on undeveloped flower buds of Melampodium divaricatum (L.C. Richard) D.C. (Asteraceae). Extrafloral nectaries of this plant are visited by several insects, including predatory foraging worker ants of E. ruidum. Dissection of recently emerged females of K. iridicolor yielded ≈4,500 fully developed eggs.

Received: July 13, 2005; Accepted: January 14, 2006

Keywords: Eucharitidae, Ponerinae, ant–host association, Kapala, Ectatomma



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Fig. 1–7. 1–2, K. izapa (male): 1, habitus (lateral); 2, antenna. 3, K. sulcifacies, paralectotype male habitus (lateral); 4, Kapala sp. near sulcifacies (Trinidad), male habitus (lateral). 5–7, K. izapa (male): 5, habitus (dorsal); 6, head (frontal); 7, mesosoma (lateral)

Fig. 8–11. K. izapa: 8, female habitus (lateral); 9, female habitus (dorsal); 10, unfed planidium attached to ant larva; 11, fed first instar from prepupa

Fig. 12–19. K. izapa: 12, egg; 13, planidium, dorsal and ventral view (tp, tergopleural line); 14, planidium partially burrowed into host cuticle; 15, location of attachment of planidia to host larvae (n = 96 host larvae, 110 planidia; black dots, burrowed with melanization); 16, host Ectatomma with attached planidium (pl); 17, fed planidium from host prepupa; 18, third instar (pl-ex, planidium exuvium); 19, pupa (abpr, abdominal projection)

table

Table 1. Host plant records for Kapala

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