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Sphecomorpha rufa
Classification
Diagnostic Features of Larvae
- Mature larva. Head transverse, with sides very feebly rounded and divergent posteriorly; frons pale, testaceous, with front margin rather broadly ferruginous; genae bearing several pale bristly setae, which are slightly curved. Labrum transversely oval, fringed anteriorly with short pale setae. Mandible pitchy, smooth, glabrous. Antenna with basal membrane rather long; segment 2 about two and one-half times as long as basal width; segment 3 at least four times as long as basal width and nearly half as long as segment 2; supplementary process very short. One pair of ocelli present; lens large, oval, feebly convex; pigmented spot indistinct. Hypostoma testaceous, with front margin broadly ferruginous, smooth, glabrous; sutures indiscernible. Gula broad. Maxilla with segment 3 of palp almost as long as segment 2; dorso-external process of palpifer small. Labial palpi with segment 2 as long as segment 1. Prothorax with anterior part of pronotum with a testaceous transverse band (interrupted medially); posteriorly dull, finely micro-granulate. Abdomen with each dorsal ampulla with two transverse furrows and finely micro-granulate. Anal lobes bearing a few pale setae. Pleural discs indiscernible. Legs 2-segmented, rather short, about half length of metathoracic spiracle. Spiracles with peritreme testaceous, broadly oval and without marginal chambers. Length up lo 28 mm; maximum breadth (at prothorax) 5 mm. This larva appears to be more closely related to the Callichromatini than to any other major tribe.
Pupa. Head with vertex not concealed from above by pronotum; elongate, triangular, glabrous. Antennae short, extending as far as abdominal segment 1, gradually thickened towards apices. Eyes feebly convex. Labrum subtrapezoidal, glabrous. Pronotum without lateral tubercles; disc with a few scattered very fine pale setae. Mesonotum and metanotum with a few similar setae; scutellum rather strongly protuberant; scutellar groove distinct. Elytra strongly attenuated and tapering towards apices; elytra and wings extending as far as abdominal segment 4. Abdomen very strongly narrowed and constricted basally; tergites 1-8 each with a single transverse row of short stout spines (each with a basal seta), anterior to which are a few scattered smaller spines. Tergite 9 extremely short, with a transverse, subrectangular elevation. Sternites smooth, glabrous. Legs with hind femora placed parallel to longitudinal axis of body; very long, extending to between abdominal segments 5 and 6. Functional spiracles present on abdominal segments 1-6, the pair on segment 7 being closed and probably non-functional; peritreme extremely thin, pale, and broadly oval; marginal chambers absent. Length up to 26 mm.; maximum breadth 6 mm. Adapted from Duffy (1960).
Biology and Economic Importance
- Biology unknown for members of this tribe. Species of this tribe are potentially invasive outside their native range.
Selected References to Larvae Specimens
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