A study on taxonomy and phylogeny of immature stages of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea).

A taxonomic and phylogenetic study of Sphecidae based on morphology of last instar larvae and eggs is presented, including description of the family and a key to identify genera, tribes and subfamilies. Larval morphology of 12 species of Sphecidae was studied, along with four others used as outgroups (belonging to Ampulicidae, Crabronidae and Apidae). Thirty characters were listed from the morphological studies.

Morphological studies on the last instar larvae of three South American species of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea).

As part of the effort to describe immature stages of South American apoid wasps species and to raise, describe, and illustrate new characters useful in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of this group, the last instar larvae of three species are described: Ammophila gracilis Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845, Sphex opacus Dahlbom, 1845, Sphex dorsalis Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845. The specimens were colected in Brazil and analyzed using both optical and scainning eletronic microscope. Comparisons with other species of the genera Ammophila Kirby and Sphex Linnaeus are provided.