Life cycle of Aylax hypecoi (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), a gall inducer on Hypecoum ssp. (Papaveraceae)

Abstract

The life cycle and developmental stages of Aylax hypecoi (Trotter, 1913, Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Aylacini) were studied in detail. Aylax hypecoi is known to induce galls in fruits of two Hypecoum species - H. imberbe and H. geslini (Papaveraceae) and the larva develops in host plant fruits. The morphology and development of egg, larva and pupa were investigated, which has previously not been done. The shape and size of terminal-instar larvae and associated galls are sex-specific. Overwintering stage, adult emergence and flying periods, and egg productivity were studied also. © Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.