Description of C. sp. nr curvimaculatus Life
Stages. Egg. The egg is white, hymenopteriform
with a cylindrical arcuate shape. Both ends are
round, and t h e cephalic end is slightly larger than
the caudal end (Fig. 1A). The length is 0.12-0.18
mm (n = 27).
Larvae. The neonate larva is translucent white
and has a squarish head, flattened dorsoventrally,
and has 7 visible body segments; these segments are
all of nearly t h e same size, except t h e last is slightly
longer and pointed posteriorly. The dominant features
on t h e head are 2 laterally attached, heavily
sclerotized, sickle-shaped mandibles; 2 labral processes;
and t h e labium (Fig. I B ) ; t h e last 3 are ventral. The dorsum is sparingly covered with small
spines. Neonate larvae are usually surrounded by
serosal cells.
The late 1st instar is characterized by 12 visible
body segments and an enlarged anal vesicle (Fig.
1C). The 1st segment posterior to t h e head capsule
is 2-3 times longer than any of t h e following segments.
The anal vesicle begins to appear around
day 6 of development. The body changes from the
translucence of t h e neonate larva to a more opaque
white.
The neonate larva's body length and head width
are 0.14 ± 0.01 mm and 0.06 ± 0.00 mm (n = 32),
respectively. A fully developed 1st instar is 1.25 ±
0.27 mm (n = 23) long and its head width is t he
same as that of t h e neonate larvae (Fig. 2; Table 1).
The 2nd instar is creamy white (Fig. I D ) ; its
head is larger than that of t h e 1st instar, followed
by 13 visible body segments and a large anal vesicle
which is typically indented posterodorsally. The
head and mouthparts are unsclerotized. This instar
also has antennal disks on t h e dorsal surface of t he
head, urate cells (which appear as white dots
through the cuticle) within the abdominal segments,
and t h e beginning of a tracheal system.
A young 2nd instar's body length and head width
are 1.89 ± 0.26 mm and 0.39 ± 0.05 mm (n = 16),
respectively. An older 2nd instar is 3.04 ± 0.46 mm
long and its head is 0.44 ± 0.08 mm (n = 36) wide
(Fig. 2; Table 1).
The 3rd (final) instar (Fig. I E ) has an average
body length of 3.82 ± 0.25 mm and an average head
width of 0.49 ± 0.03 mm (n = 34) (Fig. 2; Table 1).
The early 3rd instar is endoparasitic and can be
distinguished from the 2nd instar by its slightly
sclerotized mouthparts and t h e development of lateral
lobes on t h e abdominal segments. The tracheal
system has more visible branches, and the urate
cells appear whiter and larger. As development of
the 3rd instar continues, the anal vesicle is lost.
The fully developed 3rd instar parasitoid is characterized
by fully sclerotized mouthparts as well as
very enlarged lateral lobes on segments 5 through
12. The creamy white body of t h e early 3rd instar
becomes more pinkish. Short spines occur on t he
dorsal surface of t h e body; these were less noticeable
in t h e early 3rd instar.
Pupa. After the 3rd-instar parasitoid spins its silver-
white cocoon it becomes stationary. During
this period, the larva shrinks slightly, and t h e abdomen
becomes wider. The gut contents become a
homogenous mass of material. This stationary period
of t h e larva is c o n s i d e r e d the prepupa.
The pupa is exarate. Its color changes with age, at
first pale and then darkening. Just before ecdysis,
the pharate adult is visible and t h e pupa becomes
black.
Adult. The adults (Fig. I F ) have a black head and
body except for a large white band at t h e anterior
end of t h e abdomen. The scape and pedicel of t he
antennae are yellowish brown, and t h e flagellum is
yellowish brown proximally, gradually darkening to
black distally. The prothoracic legs are yellowish
brown; the last tarsomere is black. The mesothoracic
legs are like t h e prothoracic, except for a dark
band on the femora; this is slightly darker in females.
The femora of t h e metathoracic legs are dark
with a yellowish brown anterior; tibiae are yellowish
brown medially and darker both distally and proximally; tarsi are similar to t h e pro- and mesothoracic
tarsi.
Several differences occur between the 2 sexes.
Male antennae have 22-25 segments; those of t he
female have 16 segments. The body length of males
is 3.19 ± 0.17 mm (n = 40); of females 3.43 ± 0.14
mm (n = 40). Lastly, the females have a small
ovipositor (Fig. 1G), and t h e males have an oblong
pit at t h e apex of t h e abdomen (Fig. 1H).