Behavioural notes on the Neotropical parasocial spider wasp Ageniella (Lissagenia) flavipennis (Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), with host association

1. Ageniella is a species‐rich group of spider wasps restricted to the New World. Knowledge regarding the behaviour of this genus is based mainly on the Nearctic species, which have been reported to nest solitarily in the soil. This study reports for the first time the nesting behaviour, with host association of Ageniella (Lissagenia) flavipennis Banks. 2. Behavioural aspects on the nesting of A. flavipennis were observed from a study of six nests found in an Atlantic Forest conservation area in São Paulo State, Brazil. Host specimens were collected from a nest, as well as while being carried by an A. flavipennis individual. 3. The present study reports the A. flavipennis females cohabiting or nesting solitarily in mud nests, indicating that this spider wasp shows some lower level of parasociality. In addition, the spider Enoploctenus cyclothorax (Bertkau) was reported for the first time as host. As has been observed for other Ageniellini, females of A. flavipennis amputate the host's legs and transport the spider to the nest, flying or walking forward. 4. Communal behaviour has been reported for species of different genera of Pompilidae, such as Macromeris Lepeletier, Paragenia Bingham and Auplopus Spinola. Recent phylogenetic analyses suggest that the Lissagenia species are more closely related to the other Ageniellini genera than to the other Ageniella species. The present information on nesting and prey could contribute towards a more conclusive phylogenetic position of Lissagenia.     

Stick insects (Phasmida) as prey of spiders: size,palatability and defence mechanisms in feeding tests

Summary The maximum body length of the phasmid Carausius morosus which the ctenid spider Cupiennius salei can overwhelm is 2–3x larger than the length of crickets. Eight phasmid species were offered to Cupiennius salei in feeding tests. Among them, Carausius morosus was raised on 4 different food plants. All species of prey items were accepted by the spider predator very readily (>80%). This indicates that phasmids are a highly palatable prey group for spiders. The possible importance of chemical defence and its obvious lack under laboratory conditions are discussed.     

Nests of Augochlora (A.) esox in Bromeliads,a Previously Unknown Site for Sweat Bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Five nests of Augochlora (Augochlora) esox (Vachal, 1911) were detected in the rosettes of bromeliads (Aechmaea nudicaulis and A. lindenii) on the island of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Two of the nests were constructed after manipulation of bromeliads as trap nests. Cells were built in the central funnel filled with moist black humus in a scattered way without a detectable pattern. One founding female and all brood stages from eggs to pupae as well as male and female imagines were found in the nests which contained between 3–16 cells each. The uppermost cells contained the youngest larvae whereas pupae and young imagines were found at the bottoms of the nests. Pollen carried by the provisioning female and present in provisions of two nests originated from 18 plant species, in particular Asteraceae and Melastomataceae. Nest architecture is compared to that of congeners, and the use of bromeliads as nest sites for bees is discussed.     

中国栉足蛛科2新种（蛛形纲：蜘蛛目）

记述我国栉足蛛科（Ｃｔｅｎｉｄａｅ）２新种,命名为简安蛛,新种Ａｎａｈｉｔａ ｓａｎｐｌｅｘａ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．和道县弱栉蛛Ｌｅｐｔｏｃｔｅｎｕｓ ｄａｏｘｉａｎｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．。