Other Common Names
"Golden-reined Wasp" might be an appopriate common name, based on the meaning of the species name.
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Sphex habenus Say, 1832. Synonyms:
Sphex habena (spelling/gender)
Explanation of Names
Habenus (or habena) is Latin for "thong", or "rein"
(1). This likely refers to the markings highlighting the thorax.
Size
male: 29 mm average length, female: 25 mm average length (Bohart and Menke, 1963, quoted by
DiscoverLife)
Identification
A dark Sphex, resembling Sphex ichneumoneus, but appears smaller. Abdomen is dark in females, mostly reddish in males, apparently. Golden highlights on face and around thorax.
Sphex flavovestita is a related (and similar?) species with an, apparently, similar range. In comments
here, it is stated that
Sphex flavovestitus has yellow on legs like
Sphex nudus. (
Sphex habenus has dark legs.)
Range
Southeastern United States--North Carolina south to Florida, west to Arkansa, Texas (
DiscoverLife).
Habitat
Found on flowers in fields.
Season
Mid-summer to fall. July-October (North Carolina).
Life Cycle
Nest is a burrow, presumably. Provisions with long-horned orthoptera.
See Also
Sphex flavovestita is, perhaps, a similar species.
Print References
Bohart, R. M. and A. S. Menke. 1963. A reclassification of the Sphecinae with a revision of the Nearctic species of the tribes Sceliphronini and Sphecini (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). University of California Publications: Entomology 30:91–192. (quoted by
DiscoverLife)
Borror, entry for
habena (1)
Brimley, p. 444
(2) lists
Chlorion habenum (=
Sphex habenus?) from the eastern part of North Carolina, July-October. That reference also mentions mentions
Chlorion opacum flavitarsis (=
Sphex flavovestita?), July-September from the eastern part of North Carolina, and also from the mountains.
Internet References
DiscoverLife--
Sphex habenus
This
document from Univ. Florida mentions both S. flavovestitus and S. habenus as "fossorial; prey long-horned Orthoptera."
North Carolina State University Entomology lists
Sphex habenus from that state with 38 specimens,
Sphex flavovestitus with 5 specimens.
Contributed by
Cotinis on 16 September, 2005 - 9:54am
Additional contributions by
Beatriz MoissetLast updated 18 March, 2010 - 10:58pm
