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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies (Vespidae) » Paper Wasps (Polistinae) » Honey Wasps (Brachygastra) » Mexican Honey Wasp (Brachygastra mellifica)
Photo#1635660
Brachygastra mellifica on fondant tray - Brachygastra mellifica - female
Copyright © 2019 dvoribird

Brachygastra mellifica on fondant tray - Brachygastra mellifica - Female
Round Rock, Williamson County, Texas, USA
December 1, 2018
Has been coming in small numbers to my bee fondant, usually two to eight at a time.
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Contributed by dvoribird on 14 February, 2019 - 6:30pm
Last updated 14 February, 2019 - 9:20pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John S. Ascher, 14 February, 2019 - 7:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you!
.
… dvoribird, 14 February, 2019 - 8:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Female
6 abdominal segments = ♀
Most of the other images (or all of them) are also females.
… Bob Biagi, 14 February, 2019 - 9:02pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you!
Bob, I think I messed up this one:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1635694

and I'm not sure about this one:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1635700

or
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1635701

Since I'm on the northern edge of the current range of the Brachygastra, I wanted to add some records, but I think I must be getting both species in my backyard.
… dvoribird, 14 February, 2019 - 9:11pm login or register to post comments

 
Females
They all look OK. The first abdominal segment is very small. (doesn't even reach up to the first curve)
… Bob Biagi, 14 February, 2019 - 9:19pm login or register to post comments

 
Ah, thank you!
I appreciate your help, Bob. At this point, Williamson County (north of Austin) seems to be as far north as these have been reported so far. They have been regulars in my backyard since November.
Dumb question, but are these guys thelytokous parthenogenetic?

edit: just read that they are arrhenotokous parthenogenetic: males, rather than females, develop from unfertilised eggs.

I have no idea what my wasps are surviving on. I don't know of any Diaphorina citri or citrus plants near me.
… dvoribird, 14 February, 2019 - 9:26pm login or register to post comments

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