Pseudodynerus quadrisectus

Pseudodynerus quadrisectus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Subfamily: Eumeninae
Genus: Pseudodynerus
Species: Pseudodynerus quadrisectus

Pseudodynerus quadrisectus is a species of solitary mason wasp in the genus Pseudodynerus and family Eumenidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1837.[1] It includes the subspecies P. q aztecus (Saussure, 1857).[1]

Description

A mid-to-large size wasp, its forewing length is 12-16 mm in females and 10.5-13 mm for males. Their coloring is mostly black, but with ivory markings that are more visible in females.[2]

Mason wasps create nests with mud, constructing one or more separate chambers for their larvae, each stocked with an insect food source. Mason wasps are also known as potter wasps for the pot-like nests some other species build, but pseudodynerus quadrisectus builds in existing cavities in wood, sometimes those previously used by other hymenoptera like the carpenter bee.[2]

Pseudodynerus quadrisectus nest built in a hole bored by a carpenter bee

Distribution

The species has been found in the United States from New Jersey down to Florida and west to Texas, as well as in Mexico and Costa Rica.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D. (2011). "Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist.". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Buck, Matthias; Marshall, Stephen A.; Cheung, David K.B. (19 February 2008). "Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region". Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, May 31, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.