Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#1972191
Cyphopelta modesta - female

Cyphopelta modesta - Female
Wilson Creek, Laguna Mts., San Diego County, California, USA
May 2, 2021
Size: 7.5 mm to tip of wings
6.5 mm to tip of abdomen.
Coordinates: 32.706, -116.737
Collected by J.T. Botz by beating Ceanothus sp., and determined by J.T. Botz as Cyphopelta modesta Van Duzee.

It's quite a large and beautiful ant (or wasp?) mimic! There were some large (~9-mm) Camponotus ants in the vicinity. Elsewhere, I found immatures of this mirid in association with the smaller (5-mm) velvety tree ant, Liometopon occidentale, but I don't recall seeing any of those ants in this area. These are the first images of this (monotypic) genus for the guide.

Full-resolution image here.

Images of this individual: tag all
Cyphopelta modesta - female Cyphopelta modesta - female Cyphopelta modesta - female Cyphopelta modesta - female Cyphopelta modesta - female