Postembryonic development of Gonatopus lunatus Klug (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae: Gonatopodinae), with remarks on its biology

Abstract

The eggs of Gonatopus lunatus Klug (Hymenoptera : Dryinidae) are laid into the abdomen of Cicadellidae hosts. They are partially internal, with the posterior region protruding outside the host’s body between 2 overlapping tergal segments. 5 larval instars make up the postembryonic development (the first 4 are said “immature larvae” and the fifth instar “mature larva”). The immature larvae have 2 white, kidney-shaped vesicles anteriorly and 9 pairs of spiracles. In each immature larval instar the mouth is closed. The mature larva has a well-developed head, 3 thoracic segments and 10 abdominal ones. The mandibles are strongly sclerotized, triangular, and possess a glandular canal opening at the apex. The body chaetotaxy is characterized by 1 row of small setae on each thoracic and abdominal segment. The exarate pupa is adecticous. G. lunatus is facultatively parthenogenetic; it is thelytokous. Characters of eggs and larvae are useful for systematic studies on the Gonatopodinae subfamily.