Sunday, 26 October 2003 - 2:40 PM
0068

This presentation is part of : Program Symposium: Life on a Little-known Planet--A Tribute to Howard Ensign Evans

Nesting and reproductive biology of Bembecinus neglectus (Spheciformes) in Central Texas

Allan W. Hook, St. Edwards University, Dept. of Biology, Austin, TX

The nesting and reproductive biology of Bembecinus neglectus was studied the last four summers in Central Texas. Males emerge about a week before females and patrol the nesting and surrounding area. Males typically form mating balls around newly eclosed females. Males that patrol vegetation adjacent to the emergence area were significantly smaller than males flying low over the emergence area. Males that successfully obtained mates from mating balls were significantly larger than both ground and vegetation patrolling males. Females progressively provisioned unicellular nests with homopteran prey. Observations were also made on nocturnal roosts of wasps. Two new records of parasites were obtained from cocoon rearings: a bombyliid, Exoprosopa albicollaris and a mutillid, Dasymutilla vesta.



Species 1: Hymenoptera Sphecidae Bembecinus neglectus
Species 2: Diptera Bombyliidae Exoprosopa albicollaris
Species 3: Hymenoptera Mutillidae Dasymutilla vesta
Keywords: nesting behavior, mating balls

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