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.
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10 July 2020
Extraction and Elemental Composition of Meconium in Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Nil Bağrıaçık
Florida Entomologist
Vol. 103 • No. 2
June 2020
Vol. 103 • No. 2
June 2020
fecal waste
Polistinae
Vespoidea