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Species Ancistrocerus undescribed-b - Ancistrocerus undescribed species B

Ancistrocerus undescribed species B - Ancistrocerus undescribed-b - female 2-banded Mason Wasp - Ancistrocerus undescribed-b potter wasp at nest - Ancistrocerus undescribed-b potter wasp at nest - Ancistrocerus undescribed-b potter and mason - Ancistrocerus undescribed-b - female potter and mason wasp - Ancistrocerus undescribed-b - female Ancistrocerus sp. B female - Ancistrocerus undescribed-b - female Ancistrocerus sp. B male - Ancistrocerus undescribed-b - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Vespoidea
Family Vespidae (Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies)
Subfamily Eumeninae (Potter and Mason Wasps)
Genus Ancistrocerus
Species undescribed-b (Ancistrocerus undescribed species B)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
This undescribed species was previously confused with other species of the A. catskill-complex (A. catskill, A. albophaleratus), and will be named in the near future. For further information see the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region. (1)
Explanation of Names
"Species B" is merely a code name, used in (1). A valid scientific name is not yet available.
Identification
Female metasoma with three white bands (rarely only two, or traces of a fourth). Males are indistinguishable from Ancistrocerus albophaleratus.
Habitat
Based on personal observation (M. Buck, unpublished) and several images posted on Bugguide the species nests in holes or cracks in earthen cliffs, rocks, stone/brick walls or concrete. It differs in this respect from the closely related Ancistrocerus albophaleratus, which nests in holes in wood.
Season
Only in spring and early summer (late April to early July in Canada). This species does not occur in late summer when other Ancistrocerus are common.
Works Cited
1.Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the Northeastern Nearctic Region
Matthias Buck, Stephen A. Marshall, and David K. B. Cheung. 2008. Biological Survey of Canada [Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification].