NESTING, MALE BEHAVIOR OF CENTRIS (WAGENKNECHTIA) RODOPHTHALMA PÉREZ (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHORIDAE) AND COMPARISONS WITH OTHER CHILEAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS
NIDIFICACIÓN, CONDUCTA DE MACHOS DE CENTRIS (WAGENKNECHTIA) RODOPHTHALMA PÉREZ (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHORIDAE) Y COMPARACIÓN CON OTRAS ESPECIES CHILENAS DEL GÉNERO
Author
Chiappa T., Elizabeth
Bascuñán, Rossana
Rodríguez, S.
Abstract
The nesting biology of Centris rodophthalma Pérez is described and compared lo published accountsof C. autrani, C. cineraria, C. mixta tamarugalis and C. nigerrima. All are ground nesting solitary specieswith nests constructed in plañe surfaces or soft slopes, but those of C. cineraria and C. nigerrima arelocated into vertical walls too. Except C. mixta tamarugalis, the other ones, built a not ramified tunnelfilled with loose soil when the nests have been closcd. The number and disposition of the cells is differentin each one of the species, no more than 10 serially arranged in C. autrani, 3-4 placed laterally in C.cineraria and C. nigerrima, 4-8 in C. mixta tamarugalis near the tunnel base, and 1-3 radially distributedat the end of a not curved tunnel in C. rodophthalma. In addition, proterandry, mating, male mating strategies,sleeping aggregations as well as rejection of males by fcmales are reported and discusssed.