Ogol I.N. 2021. [Biology of the parasitic wasp Latibulus argiolus (Rossi, 1790) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a parasitoid of Polistes wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistes Latreille). I. Morphology of pre-imaginal stages and structure of cocoons] // Euroasian Entomological Journal. Vol.20. No.2: 65–75 [in Russian, with English summary].

State educational institution of higher professional education “Donetsk national university”, faculty of biology, Shchora Str. 46, Donetsk 283050. E-mail: ylyaogol@mail.ru

doi: 10.15298/euroasentj.20.2.02

ABSTRACT. Descriptions of eggs, larvae of the first, two intermediate (presumably III and IV) and last instars, pupa, and also two types of cocoons of the parasitoid wasp Latibulus argiolus are given, supported by photographic material. On the head of a mature larva of the spring morph, a number of specific strongly sclerotized areas (on a vertex, frons, clypeus, labrum, and postlabium) are noted, which are not characteristic for described larvae of other species of the subfamily Cryptinae. Their presence is probably associated with the unique structure and mobility of wintering cocoons of representatives of the genus Latibulus. These areas are weakly sclerotized on the head of the summer morph, which produce simple motionless cocoons. Both types of cocoon consist of silk fibres (diam. 1.5–6 µm). Lateral and posterior cocoon walls of the summer morph, lining host nest cell within, consist of one leaky layer of the given fibres. The frontal wall, adjoining with external environment, consists of several densely weaved layers. The cocoon of the spring morph is similar to that of the summer morph and bears an additional friable sheath above. It is a spindle-shaped and complex structure able to leave the host’s nest when the larva vibrates its walls.

KEY WORDS: parasitoid, egg, larva, pupa, cocoon, Polistes, Latibulus, Cryptini.

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