Sphex opacus Dahlbom, 1845

Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2022, An overview of cocoon morphology of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), Journal of Natural History 55 (47 - 48), pp. 2935-2949 : 2940

Sphex opacus Dahlbom, 1845

( Figure 3 )

Description

External capsule. Approximately cylindrical; translucent, light brown or white; texture like a malleable fine paper. An extremity attached to the substratum for silken threads.

Internal capsule. Approximately cylindrical, broader sub-apically, tapering towards the extremities; basal and apical portions rounded; 27 mm long, 9 mm wide; texture very brittle; dark brown, external surface opaque, internal one brilliant; a dense layer of light brown felt-like silk firmly attached to the external surface, which can be dismembered in two independent layers, the internal one thinner ( Figure 3 (b,c)); meconium deposited in the basal extremity.

Material examined

Brazil: Rio de Janeiro State: city of Maricá (Restinga de Barra de Maricá), S.C. Buys and C. Andrade: two cocoons from larvae maintained in laboratory.

Figures

Figure 3–5. Cocoon morphology of species of Sphecinae. 3, Sphex opacus: 3(a) internal capsule, with a last instar larva inside; 3(b) internal felt-like covering of the internal capsule; 3(c) external felt-like covering of the internal capsule; 3(d) external capsule. 4, Isodontia costipennis: 4(a) external capsule; 4(b) internal capsule, with an adult wasp inside. 5, Prionyx thomae: 5(a) external capsule; 5(b) internal capsule.