Behavioural notes on the N eotropical parasocial spider wasp A geniella ( L issagenia ) flavipennis ( B anks) ( H ymenoptera: P ompilidae), with host association

• Published in: Ecological entomology 2017-02, Vol.42 (1), p.96-99
• Main Authors: DOS SANTOS, EDUARDO F., WAICHERT, CECILIA, SCOTT DOS SANTOS, CRISTIANE PRADO
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0307-6946; 1365-2311
• DOI: 10.1111/een.12356

1. A geniella is a species‐rich group of spider wasps restricted to the N ew W orld. Knowledge regarding the behaviour of this genus is based mainly on the N earctic species, which have been reported to nest solitarily in the soil. This study reports for the first time the nesting behaviour, with host association of A geniella ( L issagenia) flavipennis B anks. 2. Behavioural aspects on the nesting of A . flavipennis were observed from a study of six nests found in an A tlantic F orest conservation area in S ão P aulo S tate, B razil. Host specimens were collected from a nest, as well as while being carried by an A . flavipennis individual . 3. The present study reports the A . flavipennis females cohabiting or nesting solitarily in mud nests, indicating that this spider wasp shows some lower level of parasociality. In addition, the spider E noploctenus cyclothorax ( B ertkau) was reported for the first time as host. As has been observed for other A geniellini, females of A . flavipennis amputate the host's legs and transport the spider to the nest, flying or walking forward. 4. Communal behaviour has been reported for species of different genera of P ompilidae, such as M acromeris L epeletier, P aragenia B ingham and A uplopus S pinola. R ecent phylogenetic analyses suggest that the L issagenia species are more closely related to the other A geniellini genera than to the other A geniella species. The present information on nesting and prey could contribute towards a more conclusive phylogenetic position of L issagenia .