Beetle-killing wasp

Beetle-killing wasp
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Clade:Euarthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Hymenoptera
Family:Tiphiidae
Genus:Tiphia
Species: T. femorata
Binomial name
Tiphia femorata
Fabricius, 1775
Synonyms
  • Tiphia rugosa Tournier, 1889
  • Bethylus ater Klug, 1810
  • Bethylus pilipennis Klug, 1808
  • Sphex nigripes Costa, 1858
  • Sphex palmipes Schrank, 1781
  • Sphex rufipes Costa, 1858
  • Tiphia infima Tournier, 1889
  • Tiphia lativentris Tournier, 1889
  • Tiphia tournieri Dalla Torre, 1891

The beetle-killing wasp, Tiphia femorata, is a species of wasps belonging to the family Tiphiidae, subfamily Tiphiinae.

Subspecies

Subspecies include:[1]

  • Tiphia femorata femorata Fabricius, 1775
  • Tiphia femorata vaucheri Tournier, 1901 (Belgium, Spain, North Africa)

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe, the eastern Palearctic ecozone, and North Africa.[2] It mainly inhabits warmer, dry and semi-arid grasslands and meadows.[3]

Description

The adult males grow up to 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) long, while females reach 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in).[3] The body is completely black, light haired, and the tibiae and femora of the middle and rear pairs of legs are reddish brown.[3] Rather similar species are Tiphia minuta and Tiphia unicolor.

Biology

It is an univoltine species. These wasps can be encountered from June through September[3] feeding on nectar and pollen of flowers (especially on Apiaceae species).[3]

T. femorata parasitizes by a sting the larvae of various species of Scarabaeidae, but especially beetles of Amphimallon solstitiale. The females can smell larvae of beetles in the soil, then they dig up and drop an egg in their victims. The larvae of T. femorata feed externally on the grubs.

Bibliography

  • Allen H. W., Jaynes H. A. (1930). Contribution to the taxonomy of Asiatic wasps of the genus Tiphia (Scoliidae). // Proc. U. S. Nat. Museum, 1930. Vol. 76, N 17. 105 p.
  • Tsuneki К. (1985). Taxonomic studies of the Japanese species of the genus Tiphia (I). Revision and addition (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae). // Spec. Publ. Jap. Hymen. Assoc. 1985. N 31. P. 1-90.

References

  1. ↑ Biolib
  2. ↑ Fauna europaea
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Naturspaziergang
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