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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) » Pollen Wasps (Masarinae) » Pseudomasaris » Pseudomasaris vespoides
Photo#21773
Pseudomasaris vespoides - female
Copyright © 2005 Hartmut Wisch

Pseudomasaris vespoides - Female
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, Los Angeles County, California, USA
April 20, 2003
Size: ≧ 24mm
Fell out of corolla of Penstemon spectabilis.

Species ID by Doug Yanega (Dept. of Entomology, Entomology Research Museum, UC Riverside, CA).

Images of this individual: tag all
Pseudomasaris vespoides - female Pseudomasaris vespoides - female
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Contributed by Hartmut Wisch on 25 June, 2005 - 2:46am
Last updated 14 June, 2007 - 11:42pm

Masarinae
Just found a highly informative book on the Masarinae, including western North America's representatives:

The Pollen Wasps - Ecology and Natural History of the Masarinae. Gess, Sarah K. (1996) Harvard University Press.

Sarah Gess is Assistant Curator in the Department of Entomology of the Albany Museum, working in association with the Department of Entomology of Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
… Hartmut Wisch, 28 June, 2005 - 9:36pm login or register to post comments

Pseudomasaris
Thanks so much, Eric. I was quite certain it was some kind of vespid, but I just couldn't find any image with those clubbed antennae. I just have to find some good literature, any suggestions?
Now I'll pay special attention when around Penstemon!
… Hartmut Wisch, 27 June, 2005 - 9:03pm login or register to post comments

 
Moved to guide
I had to create a new page. We didn't have any in this subfamily, so it is a nice addition. I am learning, too, since I am interested in flower visitors.
… Beatriz Moisset, 28 June, 2005 - 5:11pm login or register to post comments

Pseudomasaris.
Wow! This is a female "pollen wasp" in the genus Pseudomasaris, family Vespidae, subfamily Masaridae. Our handful of species in North America are apparently associated ONLY with Penstemon, so even that information fits. Good notetaking! Great portrait showing the bizarre, clubbed antennae. Males have very long, clubbed antennae.
… Eric R. Eaton, 27 June, 2005 - 6:35pm login or register to post comments

 
Pseudomasaris and flowers
Pseudomasaris species are also found foraging at a few other groups of flowers, including Phacelia and Eriodictyon, both members of the Hydrophyllacea. This may be a size-based association with larger species of Pseudomasaris using Penstemon and smaller species using the others. I'll post a (not outstanding) picture of a male Pseudomasaris vespoides.
… Rob Longair, 23 January, 2006 - 3:17pm login or register to post comments

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