Observations on the Life History and Morphology of Agulla Astuta (Banks) (Neuroptera: Raphidiodea: Raphidiidae)

This raphidian predator, common some years in Southern California foothill citrus orchards, normally completes its life cycle in a single year. Larvae first appear in May, are active through the summer, and enter winter dormancy in October. A prepupal stage of 7 to 12 days precedes pupation, which usually occurs in March and April and requires about 19 days (average of rearing tests). Before its final ecdysis the pupa becomes active and moves about. Adults occur in the orchards from April till late in June, with the two sexes about equally numerous. Eggs commonly are laid in batches of 50 or less, and incubation averages 11 days. Three lots of larvae, started in 3 successive years, were reared on eggs and crawlers of black scale ( Saissetia oleae (Bern.) ). In these laboratory rearings at room temperature the year around, winter dormancy came later and was less profound, and the larvae failed to pupate in the spring. One lot of individuals was maintained as larvae through three developmental seasons, another through two. When exposed to outdoor conditions, beginning October 1957, the larvae of all three lots promptly entered winter dormancy; they pupated in the following spring, and at least some individuals of each lot emerged as adults late in April 1958. Larvae molted 10 or 11 times during their first year in laboratory rearings, 2 to 4 times in their second, and once or twice in their third year. The various stages in the life cycle are described briefly and illustrated; and posture, coloration, and proportions of the body and its segments, and the structure of appendages are discussed. Certain adult wing veins, previously in dispute, are identified by comparison with the tracheae of the pupal wing pads. Structures contained in the male genital chamber are described.