First remarks on the nesting biology of Hypodynerus andeus (Packard) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) in the Azapa valley, northern Chile

Prey identification in nests of the potter wasp Hypodynerus andeus (Packard) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) using DNA barcodes

“…1), all Geometridae. This fact confirms the specialization of H. andeus females in hunting geometrid larvae, as previously reported for the same locality based on morphological evidence (Méndez-Abarca et al 2012). Interestingly, a high proportion (50%) of the barcoded larvae matched with M. mirthae; however, four other species belonging to multiple genera were also detected in this study, suggesting that females of H. andeus are not prey specialist at species level.…”

“…Although M. mirthae was already mentioned as a probable prey of H. andeus in this locality based on morphology (Méndez-Abarca et al 2012), this is the first confirmation through DNA barcodes. The presence of M. mirthae in the cells may be related to the presence of some Fabaceae trees in the study site, which are used as hosts by the larvae of this species (Vargas et al 2005).…”

“…Although this genus is represented by thirty species in Chile (Barrera-Medina 2011), their nesting biology is poorly documented, and accurate prey identification at species level is not available (Claude-Joseph 1930;Pérez-D'Angello 1968, 1974, 1991Méndez-Abarca et al 2012).…”

“…Larvae of the moth family Geometridae have been mentioned as the only prey for this potter wasp in the coastal valleys of the northern Chilean Atacama Desert (Méndez-Abarca et al 2012). However, morphological identification of immature stages is rarely successful within Neotropical Lepidoptera, because their external morphology is still poorly known and often does not offer unambiguous differential features.…”

First host plant records for Iridopsis hausmanni Vargas (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) in the coastal valleys of northern Chile

“…(Fabaceae) (Vargas & Parra 2009), and are the only prey of the potter wasp Hypodynerus andeus (Packard, 1869) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) (Méndez-Abarca et al 2012). Thus host plant documentation for species of this moth family is important in order to know and understand their field biology adequately.…”