Wasp in Zion National Park - Hemipepsis

Moved

Moved from Pepsinae.

… Eric R. Eaton, 12 March, 2007 - 3:40pm

I respectfully disagree

This superficially looks like a male Pepsis, but closer inspection of the wings shows that it is actually a male Hemipepsis. The two genera are very similar, however, and are distinguished on the basis of wing venation and details of the apical tarsal segments. I will only give a technical explanation if requested (it's a mess of wing venation terms), but would be happy to do so.

… Nick Fensler, 11 October, 2006 - 1:59pm

Identification of Hemipsiis vs. Pepsis

Nick, I would be very interested in the technical explanation.

… Robert Kane, 12 October, 2006 - 9:35am

O.K...

I just like to be sure, because some people are not interested at all. I'll start with the easy stuff. One character is not visible, that being the rather large empodium, which is about 75% the greatest width of the apical tarsal segment. The pulvillar comb is very strong, typically much stronger than other members of the Pepsinae (14 to 40 strong bristles, usually comparable to some of the Pompilinae that typically have much stronger pulvillar combs). There is also a subcircular irregularity in the base of the first discoidal cell that is much more developed than all other Pepsines except perhaps Pepsis and some Calopompilus.
I think the best character, especially visible in these photos, is the first recurrent vein (called second rv in Townes, 1957 (!)...he actually labels it correctly in his wing venation diagram but states that "the second recurrent veins meets the second cubital cell...", which is scarcely possible since the second recurrent vein meets the third cubital (submarginal) cell in most Pompilids that have three SMC's). Anyway, this vein (first recurrent) meets the second submarginal cell at its apical 10% or is occasionally interstitial to the second transverse cubital vein (makes the first discoidal cell very long). In other Pepsines it meets this cell at most at its apical 40% and in the most similar genus, Pepsis it meets it at about its basal third. A reasonably good supporting character is that this individual lacks a strong bluish reflection, which almost all male Pepsis with orange wings have.

… Nick Fensler, 13 October, 2006 - 12:29pm

Pepsis

This is one of the tarantula hawks.Most likely a male. See guide : http://bugguide.net/node/view/3920

… Guy E. Crauwels, 9 October, 2006 - 9:32am

Thanks!

I have relabeled the images from "Fly" to "Wasp"

… Robert Kane, 9 October, 2006 - 9:48am

Once isn't enough

Oddly, when you change the "headline" on one, the other two don't convert automatically. So the others still say Fly.

… Ron Hemberger, 9 October, 2006 - 11:58am

Fixed other two as well.

Thanks Ron.

… Robert Kane, 9 October, 2006 - 12:55pm