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Species Scolia nobilitata - Noble Scoliid Wasp
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Scolioidea
Family Scoliidae (Scoliid Wasps)
Subfamily Scoliinae
Genus Scolia
Species nobilitata (Noble Scoliid Wasp)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Scolia nobilitata nobilitata Fabricius, 1805
= Scolia ornata Smith, 1855 (1)
= Scolia maculata Guerin, 1838 (1)
= Scolia tricolor Klug, 1805 (1)
= Scolia bifasciata (Swederus, 1787) (1)(2)
Scolia nobilitata otomita Saussure, 1858
= Scolia fulviventris Bartlett, 1912 (2)
= Scolia otomita Saussure, 1858 (2)
= Scolia amoena Cresson, 1856 (1)(2)
Scolia nobilitata tricincta Say, 1823
= Scolia flavocostalis Cresson, 1868 (2)
= Scolia lecontei Cresson, 1868 (2)
= Scolia lewisii Cresson, 1868 (2)
= Scolia ridingsii Cresson, 1865 (2)
= Scolia inconstans Cresson, 1865 (2)
= Scolia tricincta Say, 1823 (1)Explanation of Names nobilitata = from the Latin nōbilitāta ('ennobled')
Numbers 3 sspp. are recognized: (2)(1)
1. S. nobilitata nobilitata: Upper and Lower Austral Life Zones (MA to FL, west to CO and TX)
2. S. nobilitata otomita: western (AZ, CA, NV)
3. S. nobilitata tricincta: western (AZ, CO, w. KS, NM, w. TX) Identification Small scoliid with dark wings and reddish legs; abdomen dark, generally with 4-6 light yellow/orange spots.
Overview of Species
Subspecies are separated as follows: (4)
1. S. nobilitata nobilitata: wings very smoky, paired spots only on T2-T3 (rarely T1) with variable red markings
2. S. nobilitata otomita: wings not very smoky, abdomen with T3-6 extensively yellow, T1-2 unmarked
3. S. nobilitata tricincta: wings not very smoky, abdominal markings variable but at least T2-T4 with yellow spots. This species can also approach the patterns found in Colpa octomaculata texensis. Range across so. US ( map); Ontario Food Larva feed on grubs (Scarab larvae). Remarks May be imitated by Typocerus lunulatus:
There are also similarly patterned pompilids in the genus Anoplius:
See Also A similar species in the eastern range, Pygodasis quadrimaculata is much larger and has black legs (rather than red).
A similar species in the western range, Colpa pollenifera is readily separated by the strong metallic blue reflections in the wings not found in any of the western subspecies.
Works Cited | 1. | Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico
Karl V. Krombein, Paul D. Hurd, Jr., David R. Smith, and B. D. Burks. 1979. Smithsonian Institution Press. | |
| 2. | Checkliste der Dolchwespen der Welt (Insecta: Hymenoptera, Scoliidae)
von Till Osten. 2005. Bericht der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft Augsburg, 62: 1–62. | |
| 4. | Scoliid Wasps of the Southwestern United States
MacKay W.P. 1987. Southwestern Naturalist 32(3): 357-362. | |
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