Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 4362 No. 1: 4 Dec. 2017
Type: Correspondence
Published: 2017-12-04
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4362.1.8
Page range: 135–140
Abstract views: 79
PDF downloaded: 1

Observation of a mixed-sex, mixed-species aggregation of velvet ants, genus Timulla Ashmead, 1899 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in the Brazilian Amazon, Roraima, with a new synonymy

Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Laboratório de Hymenoptera, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Utah State University, Department of Biology, Logan, Utah 84322, USA
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Laboratório de Hymenoptera, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Hymenoptera Mutillidae

Abstract

An aggregation of two males of Timulla bitaeniata (Spinola, 1841), three single males T. rufogastra (Lepeletier, 1845) and another two males T. rufogastra (Lepeletier, 1845) in copula with two females of T. eriphyla Mickel, 1938 is documented, described and discussed. A new synonymy is proposed for Mutilla rufogastra Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1845 [=Timulla (Timulla) eriphyla Mickel, 1938, syn. nov.] based on the mating pairs.

 

References

  1. Aranda, R. & Graciolli, G. (2013) First report of Exomalopsis fulvofasciata (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) as host of two Timulla species (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Biota Neotropica, 13 (4), 382–384.
    https://doi.org/10.1590/S1676-06032013000400033

    Ashmead, W.H. (1899) Super-families in the Hymenoptera and Generic Synopsis of the families Thynnidae, Myrmosidae and Mutillidae. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 7, 45–46.

    Brothers, D.J. (1972) Biology and immature stages of Pseudomethoca f. frigida, with notes on other species (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). University of Kansas Science Bulletin, 50 (1), 1–38.

    Callan, E.M. (1942) A note on Timulla (Timulla) eriphyla Mickel (Hym., Mutillidae), a parasite of Tachysphex blatticidus F. X. Williams (Hym., Larridae) from Trinidad, B.W.I. The Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London, Series A, General Entomology, 17, 18.

    Callan, E.M. (1950) Observations on tropical wasps in Trinidad. Proceedings. Eighth International Congress of Entomology, Stockholm, 1950, 204–206.

    Callan, E.M. (1990) Mutillidae of Trinidad. Sphecos, 19, 21–22.

    Callan, E.M. (1993) Biological notes on some Tachytes and Tachysphex species (Hym., Sphecidae) in Trinidad. The Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine, 129, 41–44.

    Cambra T., R.A. & Quintero A., D. (1993) Studies on Timulla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae): new distribution records and synonymies, and descriptions of previously unknown allotypes. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 69 (4), 299–313.

    Evans, H.E. & Gillaspy, J. (1964) Observations on the ethology of digger wasps of the genus Steniolia (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Bembicini). The American Midland Naturalist, 72, 257–280.
    https://doi.org/10.2307/2423504

    Evans, E. & Linsley, E.G. (1960) Notes on a sleeping aggregation of solitary bees and wasps. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences, 59, 30–37.

    Fattig, P.W. (1936) An unusual mating of velvet ants (Hymen.: Mutillidae). Entomological News, 47, 51–52.

    Fernandes, G.W. & Ferrarri, R.R. (2012) Fruits of Mimosa foliolosa (Fabales: Fabaceae) as sleeping shelter for Megachile (Pseudocentron) botucatuna (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Neotropical Entomology, 41 (6), 518–520.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-012-0074-4

    Freeman, B.E. & Johnston, B.Y. (1978) The biology in Jamaica of the adults Sceliphron assimile Dahlbom. Ecological Entomology, 2, 39–52.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1978.tb00901.x

    Hennessey, R.D. (2002) Population-level characteristics of Dasymutilla nigripes, D. vesta, and Timulla vagans (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). The Florida Entomologist, 85 (1), 245–253.
    https://doi.org/10.1653/0015-4040(2002)085[0245:PLCODN]2.0.CO;2

    Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, A. (1845) Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Hyménoptères. Tome Troisième. Roret, Paris. [4] + 646 pp.

    Linsley, E.G. (1962) A fragmentary observation on the mating behavior of Timulla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 36 (1), 36.

    Mahlmann, T.V., Hipólito, J. & de Oliveira, F.J. (2012) Male sleeping aggregation of multiple Eucerini bee genera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. Biodiversity Data Journal, 2, e1556.
    https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.2.e1556

    Manley, D.G. & Pitts, J.P. (2007) Tropical and subtropical velvet ants of the genus Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with descriptions of 45 new species. Zootaxa, 1487, 1–128.

    Mickel, C.E. (1937a) The mutillid wasps of the genus Timulla which occur in North America north of Mexico. Entomologica Americana, 17(1 & 2), 1–56 & 57–119.

    Mickel, C.E. (1937b) New World Mutillidae in the Spinola collection at Torino, Italy (Hymenoptera). Revista de Entomologia, Rio de Janeiro, 7 (2–3), 165–207.

    Mickel, C.E. (1938) The Neotropical mutillid wasps of the genus Timulla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). The Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 87 (22), 529–679.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1938.tb00728.x

    Mickel, C.E. (1952) The Mutillidae (wasps) of British Guiana. Zoologica, New York, 37 (3), 105–150.

    Montalva, J. (2013) Hábitos de dormir de los machos de Diadasia chilensis Spinola, 1851 (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Boletín de Biodiversidad de Chile, 8, 48–50.

    Nonveiller, G. (1990) (Dec. 31) Catalogue of the Mutillidae, Myrmosidae and Bradynobaenidae of the Neotropical Region including Mexico (Insecta, Hymenoptera). Hymenopterorum Catalogus (Nova Editio).Vol. 18. SPB Academic Publishing, Den Haag, 150 pp.

    O'Toole, C. (1975) The systematics of Timulla oculata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Zoologica Scripta, 4 (5–6), 229–251.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.1975.tb00733.x

    Quintero A., D. & Cambra T., R.A. (1996) Timulla centroamericana (Dalla Torre) (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), a parasitoid of Liris (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Southwestern Entomologist, 21 (2), 205–207.

    Santos, C.F., Menezes, C., Vollet-Neto, A. & Imperatriz-Fonseca, V.L. (2014) Congregation sites and sleeping roost of male stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini).Sociobiology, 61 (1), 115–118.
    https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v61i1.115-118

    Sheldon, J.K. (1970) Sexual dimorphism in the head structure of Mutillidae Hymenoptera: a possible behavioral explanation. Entomological News, 81, 57–61.

    Silva, M.D., Adrade-Silva, M.C.R. & Silva, M. (2011) Long-term male aggregations of Euglossa melanotricha Moure (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on fern fronds Serpocaulon triseriale (Pteridophyta: Polypodiaceae). Neotropical Entomology, 40 (5), 548–552.
    https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-566X2011000500005

    Yokoi, T. & Watanabe, M. (2015) Female-biased sleeping aggregations of Amegilla florea urens (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Entomological Science, 18, 247–277.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/ens.12112