Ancistrocerus auctus (Fabricius)

Tormos, José, Polidori, Carlo, Asís, Josep Daniel & Gayubo, S. F., 2008, Description of mature larvae of Allodynerus rossii (Lepeletier), Ancistrocerus auctus (Fabricius), Euodynerus dantici (Rossi) and Symmorphus murarius (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae), Zootaxa 1946, pp. 42-54 : 45

Ancistrocerus auctus (Fabricius)

( Figs. 6–17)

A nest (length = 250 mm; diameter = 5 mm) was obtained from a reed stem at Salduero ( Soria , Spain). It had a vestibular cell (l = 50 mm), initial and final plugs (l = 5mm), and 6 cells (l = 18.5-25.5 mm, x (mean) = 23.7 mm), separated by mud septa, each of which had the remains of excrement and prey in the anterior zone. All the cells contained completed cocoons. Two females emerged from cells 1-2 (March 1999), and the larvae in cells 3–6 (reference: 1988EA1–4) were used for description .

Body ( Fig. 6) (l = 12.5–13 mm, maximum w = 3.7 mm) fusiform, robust; first five abdominal segments divided into two annulets by transverse crease. Anus terminal, in central position, as transverse slit. Pleural lobes scarcely developed. Integument with setae ( Fig. 7) (l = 10 µm) in two well conspicous lines, between the spiracles of each segment, and scattered spinules ( Fig. 8) (l = 3–4 µm). Spiracles ( Fig. 9) with walls of atrium with ridges and asperities; opening into subatrium spinulose; subatrium (d = 8 7 µm) as wide as atrium (d = 85 µm).

Cranium ( Fig. 10) (w = 1.5 mm, h (exclusive of labrum) = 0.9 mm) with sparse setae ( Fig. 10, s) (l = 8–10 µm) and punctures ( Fig. 10, p). Coronal suture present ( Fig. 17, cs) and parietal bands absent. Antennae ( Fig. 11, a) (d = 60 µm) almost flat, circular, with 3 sensilla. Clypeus ( Figs. 11, c; 12) with setae ( Fig. 12, sc) (l = 6– 8 µm) and punctures ( Fig. 12, pc). Labrum ( Figs. 11, l; 12; 13a) (w = 645 µm) emarginate, with approximately 64 sensilla ( Fig. 12, sl) (w = 6–7 µm). Epipharynx ( Fig. 13b) with 14 sensilla of which 8 (d = 3 x 5 µm) are marginal and protuberant and 6 (d = 5–6 µm) are situated in central position, distributed in two areas with 3 sensilla on each.

Mouthparts. Mandible (l = 425 µm, w = 270 µm) tridentate. Maxilla ( Figs. 14, 15) (w = 350 µm) spinulose on lacinial area ( Fig. 15, la) and with several setae ( Fig. 14, sla) (l = 10–12 µm) on external part. Maxillary palpus ( Fig. 15, mp) (h = 50 µm, w = 45 µm) with 4 apical sensilla; galea ( Fig. 15, g) (h = 37 µm, w = 22 µm) with 2 apical sensilla. Labium ( Fig. 16) (w = 300 µm) setose and spinulose ( Fig. 16, ss) dorsally to salivary orifice; labial palpus ( Fig. 17, lp) (l = 70 µm, w = 60 µm) with 4 apical sensilla; prementum with setae ( Fig. 16, sp) (l = 8–10 µm); salivary orifice as transverse slit ( Fig. 16, so) (w = 210 µm).