STRUCTURE AND MOVEMENT OF THE ABDOMEN OF FEMALE PELECINUS POLYTURATOR (HYMENOPTERA: PELECINIDAE)

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Abstract
The abdomen of female Pelecinus is uniquely and extremely modified for digging in soil. Segments 2–7 are connected by sternite to sternite articulations allowing vertical movement produced by anteriorly placed muscles acting through long tendons inserting on the adjacent succeeding segment. Segments 3–6 have, in addition to the linkage allowing vertical movement, a detached, posterior section of the sternite that can rotate on a median ventral flexible attachment to the tergal margins. This linkage allows the posterior section of a sternite together with the succeeding segments to rotate through about 135 °relative to its tergite. Tergite 8 bears large spiracles completely covered by sternite 7. The ovipositor lacks the usual 3rd linkage between gonocoxite 9 and gonapophysis 9, allowing the depressor muscle of the gonapophysis to extrude the ovipositor directly backwards.