Abstract A morphological study on the cocoon of Bicyrtes variegatus (Oliver, 1789) is presented based on specimens collected in Center-West Brazil. Notes on nesting habitat is provided. Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is recorded as prey, and Traumatomutilla ocellaris (Klug, 1821) (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) as parasitoid.

Resumen Se presenta un estudio morfológico del capullo de Bicyrtes variegatus (Oliver, 1789) basado en especímenes recolectados en el centro-oeste de Brasil. Se proporcionan notas sobre el hábitat de anidación. Se registra a Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) como presa y a Traumatomutilla ocellaris (Klug, 1821) (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) como parasitoide.

Abstract Notes on nesting behaviour of Ammophila gracilis Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845 are provided, based on observations carried out in Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil, in an area covered with a typical vegetation type that grows in sandy soil of marine origin in coastal plains. Description of stereotyped motors patterns related to nesting behaviour are emphasized. Observations on larval development are also provided.

Resumen Se proporcionan notas sobre el comportamiento de anidación de Ammophila gracilis Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845, en base a observaciones realizadas en el estado de Río de Janeiro, sureste de Brasil, en un área cubierta con un tipo de vegetación que crece en suelos arenosos de origen marino en planicies costeras. Se enfatiza la descripción de los patrones de motores estereotipados relacionados con el comportamiento de anidamiento. También se proporcionan observaciones sobre el desarrollo larvario.

Um inventário das vespas bembicíneas (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae: Bembicini, exceto Gorytina) encontradas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro é fornecido, com base na revisão da literatura e exame das coleções entomológicas do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CEIOC) e Museu Nacional - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ). Também são fornecidas notas biológicas originais sobre Rubrica nasuta (Christ, 1791), Stictia signata signata (Linnaeus, 1758) e Stictia punctata (Fabricius, 1775).

An inventory of the bembicine wasps (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae: Bembicini, except Gorytina) found in Rio de Janeiro State is provided, based on the revision of the literature and on the examination of the entomological collections of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CEIOC) and Museu Nacional - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ). Original biological notes on Rubrica nasuta (Christ, 1791), Stictia signata signata (Linnaeus, 1758) and Stictia punctata (Fabricius, 1775) are also provided.

Com o objetivo de incrementar o banco de dados produzido durante o projeto Diversidade da Mata Atlântica do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, novos registros geográficos de vespas esfecídeas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro são fornecidos. A fauna de esfecídeos encontrada em planície costeira arenosa, áreas baixas florestadas e áreas altas da Serra dos Órgãos são comparadas e uma estimativa do número total de espécies encontrada no Estado do Rio de Janeiro é fornecida.

Aiming to improve the database produced during the project Diversity of the Atlantic Forest of the Rio de Janeiro State, new geographic records of sphecid wasps in Rio de Janeiro State are provided. The sphecid fauna found in the sandy coastal plains, lowland forested areas and highland areas on the Serra dos Órgãos are compared and an estimate of the total number of species of Sphecidae from Rio de Janeiro State is provided.

São descritos estádios imaturos de três espécies do gênero neotropical caçador de baratas Podium Fabricius, 1804. Todos os estádios e o casulo de P. denticulatum Smith, 1856; a larva de último estádio e o casulo de P. aureosericeum Kohl, 1902 e a larva de último estádio de P. fumigatum (Perty, 1833) são tratados. A larva de último estádio de P. denticulatum é distinta da de outras espécies pela falta de rugosidade cefálica e por tecer casulos afilados na extremidade posterior. P. aureosericeum e P. fumigatum são únicos em possuir pequenas lamelas entre dentes mandibulares.

Immature instars of three species of the neotropical cockroach-hunting genus Podium Fabricius, 1804 are described. All larval instars and the cocoon of P. denticulatum Smith, 1856; the last instar and the cocoon of P. aureosericeum Kohl, 1902 and the last instar larva of P. fumigatum (Perty, 1833) were treated. The last larval instar of P. denticulatum is distinct from those of other species by lacking cephalic rugosity and spinning cocoons tapered in the posterior extremity. P. aureosericeum and P. fumigatum are unique in bearing small lamellae between mandibular teeth.

The last larval instar and the cocoon of Trypoxylon (Trypoxylon) maidli Richards, 1934 are described. This larva is apparently indistinguishable from that of T. clavicerum exiguum Tsuneki, 1956. They can be distinguished from larvae of other species in the subgenus by the following features: integument of body smooth, sensilla on both sensorial area and labrum, and distinct parietal bands. Notes on nesting site and preys from one nest are presented. Eurycoma insigne (Millidge, 1991) (Linyphiidae) and Argiope argentata (Fabricius, 1775) (Araneidae) are reported as preys.

The last instar larva of Microstigmus nigrophthalmus Melo, 1992 is described. It markedly differs from that of M. comes Krombein, 1967 the only other species in the genus whose mature larva have been described, for features as follows: presence of spinnerets; setae on the labrum, maxillae and labium; mandibles with tridentate apex and a bidentate lateral projection; lack of the conical supranal processo Notes on habitat, structure, and content of nests are also presented.

The last instar larva of Penepodium dubium is described from southeastern Brazil. This is the first description of an immature stage of the genus Penepodium. The larva of P. dubium is similar to those of Podium, but it can be distinguished from the species of this genus by the presence of depressions on the front and clypeus, and lack of brownish blotched areas on the head. The cocoon of Penepodium seems to be unique among those of Sceliphrini in bearing a nipple-like projection at one end.