HomeWasp classificationExpeditionsLinksFigWebBiodiversity ExplorerPermits

Ampulicidae

Ampulicid wasps of Africa and Madagascar

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera; Superfamily: Apoidea)

 
Ampulicini
Dolichurini

Distribution

 Worldwide

Biology

 Nest in stems and crevices. Prey on cockroaches, which are weakly paralysed and dragged backwards by the wasp to the nest. The nest is provisioned with only one cockroach and the egg is laid on the mid-coxa. The nest is closed with plant debris.

References

Bohart, R.M. & Menke, A. S. 1976. Sphecid Wasps of the World: a Generic Revision. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Brothers D.J. 1999. Phylogeny and evolution of wasps, ants and bees (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea, Vespoidea and Apoidea) Zoologica Scripta 28: 233–250.

Finnamore, A.T. & Michener, C.D. 1993. Superfamily Apoidea (pp. 279-357). In GOULET, H. & HUBER, J. (eds). Hymenoptera of the World: an identification guide to families. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 668 pp

Links

CATALOG OF WORLD SPHECIDAE sensu lato (= Apoidea excluding Apidae) compiled by
Wojciech J. Pulawski (California Academy of Sciences).

Credits

Photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums of Cape Town)

Web page development by Simon van Noort (Iziko South African Museum)

Copyright 2004-2008 Iziko Museums of Cape Town