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Photo#2010701
Dark hairy Mojave pitfall wasp - Typhoctes - male

Dark hairy Mojave pitfall wasp - Typhoctes - Male
CA-247, 15 mi S Barstow, San Bernardino County, California, USA
June 5, 2021
Size: 7 mm
Caught in pitfall trap set 3-7 June 2021. I have much difficulty in separating some of the vaguely mutillid-like families - any tips would be appreciated. I am not seeing mesosternal lobes, so maybe not a tiphiid? This wasp and the next one have two spine-like processes at the tip of the abdomen - are these cerci? Does this help with sexing or is it a clue to the family? Thanks! :)

Images of this individual: tag all
Dark hairy Mojave pitfall wasp - Typhoctes - male Dark hairy Mojave pitfall wasp - Typhoctes - male Dark hairy Mojave pitfall wasp - Typhoctes - male Dark hairy Mojave pitfall wasp - Typhoctes - male Dark hairy Mojave pitfall wasp - Typhoctes - male

Typhoctes sp., male
Uncommon find! The two structures you're seeing protruding from the abdomen are the parameres of the genitalia, which are not the same as the single spine of the hypopygium often seen on tiphiid and thynnid males.

Moved from Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps.

 
Thanks -
so much, George! Much appreciated.

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