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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps » Thread-waisted Wasps (Sphecidae) » Ammophilinae » Cutworm Wasps (Podalonia)
Photo#1223211
Blue Mud Wasp (Chalybion californicum)? - Podalonia
Copyright © 2016 Steven Mlodinow

Blue Mud Wasp (Chalybion californicum)? - Podalonia
Karval SWA, Lincoln County, Colorado, USA
May 9, 2016
Size: 2 cm or so
Rocky area surrounded by short grass prairie. This individual was running around madly, like a female searching for a beast to provision her young with. Chalybion seems the best fit, but if I am interpreting Bill Biagi's comments correctly, the abdomen tip fits a male rather than a female... which is confounding given the creature's apparent actions. The wings seem a bit short as projected upon the abdomen for Chalybion as well. However, given size, hairy body - I can't find a better fit. Help!!!

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Blue Mud Wasp (Chalybion californicum)? - Podalonia Blue Mud Wasp (Chalybion californicum)? - Podalonia Blue Mud Wasp (Chalybion californicum)? - Podalonia
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Contributed by Steven Mlodinow on 13 May, 2016 - 5:47pm
Last updated 15 September, 2022 - 10:41pm

Moved
Moved from Podalonia argentifrons.
… Matthias Buck, 15 September, 2022 - 10:41pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Thread-waisted Wasps.
… John S. Ascher, 22 May, 2016 - 7:58am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John S. Ascher, 13 May, 2016 - 9:42pm login or register to post comments

Female - Thread-waisted Wasp
10 flagellomeres and 6 abdominal segments. (pointy-tipped abdomen & thin flagellum) = ♀
The dark thorax doesn't seem shiny enough for Chalybion. I'm not sure that you can rule out the genus Isodontia. let's wait for an expert.
… Bob Biagi, 13 May, 2016 - 7:20pm login or register to post comments

 
What about Podalonia?
-
… John S. Ascher, 13 May, 2016 - 7:24pm login or register to post comments

 
That's better
Also, she seems to have a tarsal rake, but it's very hard to see most of it. I'm checking the legs and they look very close. Yes, I think that Podalonia argentifrons is close, but I don't know enough about the western distribution ranges of the genus.
… Bob Biagi, 13 May, 2016 - 7:38pm login or register to post comments

 
P. argentifrons range
Per the Catalogue of Sphecidae, California Academy of Sciences, there is a record of P argentifrons from the Pawnee Nat'l Grasslands in Weld County, CO; while still 100-150 mi to the n of Karval (nearly due north), the habitat is remarkably similar in parts of the Pawnee to where this beast was photographed at Karval.
… Steven Mlodinow, 13 May, 2016 - 11:00pm login or register to post comments

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