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Photo#1131188
Wasp-scan Mr. E. to see Dr. A. (lateral) - Eucerceris bitruncata - male

Wasp-scan Mr. E. to see Dr. A. (lateral) - Eucerceris bitruncata - Male
Tonopah Desert, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
May 10, 2015
Size: 10mm
These are images of a male Wasp in the genus Eucerceris.
Full Size Image: Click Here
Geographic Distribution = about 5 species possible in this area (central Arizona)

Here is relevant info from the key, (1975) found on the info tab for the genus Eucerceris: (tickle hairs, color & wide triangle)
From document: Bohart, Grissell: California Wasps of the Subfamily Philanthinae (1975)
From page 27: "In males of Eucerceris, the development and distribution of apical hair brushes or fimbriae on the sterna offer convenient separational characters."
From page 29: "E. canaliculata is a yellow & red wasp which is recognized in the male by the presence of prominent fimbriae on sterna 111-V of which that on V is shortened, but stretches across the middle third of the sternum. Also, the ocellocular distance is unusually great. "
From page 32: "E. pimarum is the only extensively red species with weakly differentiated posteromedian hair tufts on sternum V in the male."

NOTES: The red arrow is pointing at his hairs or fimbriae, on the sternal S4 segment.

Images of this individual: tag all
Wasp-scan Mr. E. to see Dr. A. (lateral) - Eucerceris bitruncata - male Wasp-scan Mr. E. to see Dr. A. (ventral) - Eucerceris bitruncata - male Wasp-scan Mr. E. to see Dr. A. (face & ventral) - Eucerceris bitruncata - male Wasp-scan Mr. E. to see Dr. A. (dorsal abdomen) - Eucerceris bitruncata - male Wasp-scan Mr. E. to see Dr. A. (dorsal front) - Eucerceris bitruncata - male Wasp-scan Mr. E. to see Dr. A. (wings & legs) - Eucerceris bitruncata - male

Moved
Moved from Eucerceris.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

 
Testing for one possible species in range of AZ to TX only
I contacted Doug Yanega about this post and he said that this wasp is a male of either E. bitruncata or E. pimarum.

Testing:
E. bitruncata - fimbriae on S3,S4 & S5 = fail

Conclusion: This wasp is most likely Eucerceris pimarum.

 
You may find it very regarding to visit a reference collection
Try SWRS near Portal or UAZ or ASU.

 
SWRS in AZ!
I didn't know that they had a collection in AZ. That's great!
Yes, I may have several reasons to visit them and the universities too. Thanks for the info.
FYI - I scanned a unique "Mrs. C." yesterday, but we will have to wait some time for her post.

 
Testing for species level ID
John, thanks for the cautions!
Here is a test of a few other species that may be found in or around my area:
E. arenaria - fimbriae on S5 only = fail
E. canaliculata - fimbriae S3 & S4, short on S5 = possible - fails dorsal abdomen (image) Thanks Ken!
E. cressoni - fimbriae on S5 only = fail
E. flavocincta - no fimbriae = fail
E. navadensis - fimbriae on S3, S4 & S5 = fail
E. pimarum - fimbriae on S3 & S4 = possible - What are the "weakly differentiated posteromedian hair tufts"? (male specimens collected in Phoenix, Arizona)
E. provancheri - well developed fimbriae on S3, S4, S5 = fail
E. vittatifrons - fimbriae on S5 only = fail

Conclusion: Based on this test, I'm leaning towards E. pimarum, as the more likely choice, but still need confirmation or more information, before I request the species page for him. Thanks

I can't comment on the technical characteristics, but...
...it looks a bit different from this one.

I suggest waiting until Dr. Ascher has had a look before moving--but then I'm always over-cautious. :)

 
Almost the same!
Other than the darker parts of the abdomen, (T3 & near the mid-lines of other grooves) I would say that my wasp is a brighter and more lively version of him.
The legs and overall body coloring is almost exactly the same, but I'm still learning about the characters of this genus. Thanks

 
agreed
that genus but i think it's another species

I have just created a Eucerceris canaliculata page
If you are confident in your ID, please feel free to move it to this new page yourself.

 
Thanks for paging me!
Kyhl, I'm still looking over the possibilities in the "key" and I would like to be extra sure first, but that is great news! This is a first for me, a first the state, a first for the BugGuide, wow!
OK, before the day is done; I will move it or lets see if the Dr. is in first.? Thanks

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