Genus Trypoxylon

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Remarks · Works Cited

Pipe Organ Mud Dauber - Trypoxylon politum - female

Crabronidae cocoons in sand - Trypoxylon politum

Crabronidae, dorsal - Trypoxylon politum - 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)

No Taxon (Apoidea sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps)

Family Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies)

Subfamily Crabroninae (Square-headed Wasps)

Tribe Trypoxylini

Genus Trypoxylon

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

reviewed in (1)

Explanation of Names

Trypoxylon Latreille 1796

Numbers

29 spp. in 2 subgenera in our area (28 in the US, 16 in Canada)(2), >630 spp. worldwide(3)

Identification

The "notched" eyes and clavate (club-shaped) abdomen are very distinctive.

keys to spp. in (1)(4)

Range

worldwide and throughout NA(3)

Remarks

The "organ pipe mud dauber" (T. politum ) is the only species in this genus (in NA) that fabricates nests of mud. All other our species (the "keyhole wasps") nest in pre-existing tunnels like beetle borings, sealing the finished nest with mud. Paralyzed spiders are used as provisions in each cell. [Comment by Eric Eaton]

Trypoxylon parasites include Melittobia chalybii (Eulophidae), Cleonymus magnificus (Pteromalidae), Trychrysis doriae (Chrysididae), Sphaeropthalma (Mutillidae), Perithous divinator (Ichneumonidae), Megaselia (Phoridae), Anthrax spp. (Bombyliidae), Amobia distorta (Sarcophagidae), and some other members of these families(5)

Works Cited

1.	A Review of the Nearctic Wasps of the Genus Trypoxylon (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) Grace A. Sandhouse. 1940. American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 133-176.

2.	Ascher J.S., Pickering J. (2017) Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)

3.	Pulawski W.J. (2003-) Catalog of Sphecidae sensu lato (Apoidea excluding Apidae)

4.	Wasps of the Genus Trypoxylon Subgenus Trypargilum in North America (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) Rollin E. Coville. 1982. University of California Press, Entomology, Volume 97.

5.	Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico Karl V. Krombein, Paul D. Hurd, Jr., David R. Smith, and B. D. Burks. 1979. Smithsonian Institution Press.

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 21 September, 2004 - 7:56pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, ceiseman, v belov
Last updated 7 October, 2020 - 9:37pm

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