File:
<mutil1.ima.htm> [For
educational purposes only] Terminology Glossary <Principal Natural
Enemy Groups > <Citations> |
Immature
Stages of Mutillidae
Detailed information on immature stages of Mutillidae is being
acquired. However, Clausen (1940)
noted that very little information was available regarding the form or habits
of immature stages of this family.
The egg of Mutilla sp
(Williams 1919b) has been described as elongated and curved, with the chorion
minutely granulated. It is placed
transversely upon the dorsum of a Tiphia
larva, between the 1st and 2nd thoracic segments. The point of larval feeding is ventral. Ferton stated that the egg of Stenomutilla argentata var. saundersivora Fer. is attached
to the inner wall of the host cocoon.
The early larval instars by 1940 had not been described for any
species. The mature larva of M. glossinae has 11 pairs of spiracles, located on the 2nd
and 3rd thoracic and the first 9 abdominal segments. The mandibles are 4-dentate, while those
of M. lunata and M.
attenuata are believed to be
tridentate. The mature larvae of all
species spin a cocoon within the cell, cocoon, or puparium of the host,
although in some cases it is imperfect. References: Please refer
to <biology.ref.htm> [Additional
references may be found at: MELVYL Library] |