Species Pepsis thisbe - Thisbe's Tarantula-hawk Wasp

Classification · Explanation of Names · Identification · See Also · Print References

Pepsis chrysothemis? - Pepsis thisbe - 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 Pompiloidea (Spider Wasps, Velvet Ants and allies)

Family Pompilidae (Spider Wasps)

Subfamily Pepsinae

Tribe Pepsini (Tarantula-hawk Wasps and Allies)

Genus Pepsis (Tarantula-hawk Wasps)

Species thisbe (Thisbe's Tarantula-hawk Wasp)

Explanation of Names

Pepsis thisbe Lucas, 1895

Identification

"Note the dark submarginal band basal to the hyaline edge of the wing." (comment by Nick Fensler)

See Also

Pepsis pallidolimbata. It is necessary to view the wing tips in order to distinguish between P. thisbe and this species -- see comments in the Identification sections.

Print References

Cazier, M. A. & M. Mortenson (1964). Bionomical observations on tarantula hawks and their prey (Hymenoptera Pompilidae): Pepsis. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 57:533-541

Evans, H. E. 1953. Comparative ethology and the systematics of spider wasps. Syst. Zool. 2:155-172.

Passmore, L. (1936). Tarantula and tarantula hawk. Nature Magazine, 27:155-159.

Petrunkevitch, A. (1926). Tarantula versus tarantula hawk: a study in instinct. J. Exp. Zool. 45:367-394.

Petrunkevitch, A. (1952). The spider and the wasp. Sci. Amer. 187:20-33.

Punzo, F. (1994). The biology of the spider wasp, Pepsis thisbe (Hymenoptera Pompilidae) from Trans Pecos, Texas. I. Adult morphometrics, larval development and the ontogeny of larval feeding patterns. Psyche Vol. 101: 229-241. (Full Text)

Punzo, F. (1994). The biology of the spider wasp, Pepsis thisbe (Hymenoptera Pompilidae) from Trans Pecos, Texas. II. Temporal Patterns of Activity and Hunting Behavior With Special Reference to the Effects of Experience. Psyche Vol. 101: 243-256. (Full Text)

Punzo, F. & Ludwig, L. (2005). Behavioral Responses of Pepsis thisbe (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) to Chemosensory Cues associated with host spiders. Journal of Insect Behavior. 18 (6): 757–766.

Williams, F. X. (1956). Life history studies of Pepsis and Hemipepsis wasps in California (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae). Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 49:447-466.

Contributed by Nick Fensler on 11 August, 2006 - 3:38pm
Additional contributions by Aaron Schusteff, Harsi S. Parker, PaleoJon
Last updated 14 March, 2024 - 3:14pm

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