Descriptions of the final instar larvae of Perithous septemcinctorius, Zatypota bohemani and Z-gracilis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae)

The exuviae of the final larval instar of three species of pimpline Ichneumonidae (Pimplinae: Delomeristini, Ephialtini), Perithous septemcinctorius (Thunberg), Zatypota bohemani (Holmgren) and Z gracilis (Holmgren), are described. The mature larvae of Perithous Holmgren are characterized by presenting the maxillary and labial palpi with more than two sensilla. The exuviae of the different species that have been described in this genus, Perithous divinator, P. scurra and P. septemcinctorius, can be differentiated on the basis of the following characters: (a) presence/absence of spinules on the tegument, sensillum on antennal orbit, cardo; seta on posterior part of stipital sclerite; (b) presence/absence of number of setae on labrum, clypeus, maxilla, and postlabium, and sensilla on clypeus and labrum; (c) degree of development of epistoma; (d) number of sensilla of the maxillary and labial palpi (in the three species there are more than two sensilla), and (e) differentiation of the spinneret and salivary orifice. The most apparent differences between the exuviae of Zatypota Forster, Zatypota bohemani, Z. gracilis and Zatypota sp., are the expansion shown by the stipital sclerite at its lateral end and in the number, presence/absence and arrangement of the setae of the cranial sclerites (clypeus and labrum) and mouth parts (maxillae and labium). Descriptions of the cocoons of the two species of Zatypota and host records for all three species are reported.