Abstract

AVILA-NUNEZ, Jorge L.; DANIEL OTERO, Luis; SILMI, Sobeida  and  CALCAGNO-PISARELLI, Maria P.. Life history of Aneugmenus merida Smith (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) in the Venezuelan Andes. Neotrop. Entomol. [online]. 2007, vol.36, n.1, pp.22-27. ISSN 1678-8052.  https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-566X2007000100003.

Details of the life cycle of Aneugmenus merida Smith (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) reared under laboratory conditions are reported. Females may produce parthenogenetic or non-parthenogenetic eggs. After eclosion, males of A. merida go through five larval instars, pre-pupa, pupa and imago. The complete life cycle lasts approximately 44 days. Larvae feed on bracken [Pteridium caudatum (L.) and Pteridium arachnoideum (Kaulf)] (Dennstaedtiaceae). We also report on morphological observations of the sinus sexualis in males by scanning electron micrographs and give details on mating behavior.

Keywords : Bracken; Neotropical sawfly; Pteridium; sinus sexualis; mating behavior.

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