Extraction and elemental composition of meconium in Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Abstract
In the social wasps, meconium is the fecal waste of the last larval instar before pupation. Meconium is ejected from fifth (last) instar larvae after their last feeding period as a fecal mass in Polistes species. The ejection of the meconium is important for the completion of metamorphosis. The aim of this study was to determine the elemental composition of meconium from Polistes dominulus (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Meconia were analyzed with an energy dispersive x-ray scanning electron microscope where the average atomic percentage of C, N, O, P, K, Si, Fe, Mg, S, Al, Ca, Na, and Cl were determined. We also found that the percentage of elements in the meconia in our study were variable and probably attributable to larval diet.
Resumen
En las avispas sociales, el meconio es el desperdicio fecal del último estadio larval antes de la pupación. El meconio se expulsa de las larvas del quinto (último) estadio (instar) después de su último período de alimentación como una masa fecal en las especies de Polistes. La expulsión del meconio es importante para completar la metamorfosis. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la composición elemental del meconio de Polistes dominulus (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Euminidae). Se analizó el meconio con un microscopio electrónico de barrido de rayos X de dispersión de energía donde se determinó el porcentaje atómico promedio de C, N, O, P, K, Si, Fe, Mg, S, Al, Ca, Na, y Cl. También encontramos que el porcentaje de elementos en el meconio en nuestro estudio fue variable y probablemente atribuible a la dieta larval.
Key Words: Vespoidea; Polistinae; fecal waste
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