Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea sans Anthophila – Apoid Wasps » Thread-waisted Wasps (Sphecidae) » Ammophilinae » Ammophila » Ammophila aphrodite
Photo#315015
Ammophila - Ammophila aphrodite - female
Copyright © 2009 Lynn Monroe

Ammophila - Ammophila aphrodite - Female
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, California, USA
April 23, 2009
Size: BL ~ 19 mm
This striking all red Ammophila (or Podolonia?) was on Goldenhead (Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus -- Asteraceae) at Vallecito Ranch. It seems to have some long bristles on either side of the tip of the abdomen.

It is the only all red thread-waist I have seen. All others have had black heads. I can't see the thread-waist, but it seems very elongate. I'll be grateful for any help.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Lynn Monroe on 4 August, 2009 - 9:09am
Last updated 4 August, 2009 - 2:28pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Eric R. Eaton, 4 August, 2009 - 1:26pm login or register to post comments

Ammophila
Cool! This is one of the ant-mimicking species! Not one I recognize, either. Let me see if I can get a species. Stay tuned...
… Eric R. Eaton, 4 August, 2009 - 9:43am login or register to post comments

 
Ant-mimicking Ammophila
Exciting! Thanks for identifying it and looking into it, Eric. It's much appreciated.
… Lynn Monroe, 4 August, 2009 - 10:05am login or register to post comments

 
This from Arnold Menke....
Arnold Menke, the world authority on this genus, wrote to me: "The Ammophila is aphrodite Menke, a female. Its in the procera group. It is an early species, ie, Spring. Found in the southwestern deserts." I'll make up a page if there isn't one already. Nice find!
… Eric R. Eaton, 4 August, 2009 - 1:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Ammophila aphrodite!!
Apropriate name! I must admit she's a beauty! Thanks so much for finding the identify of this rather special Ammophila, Eric. We were lucky to see it!
… Lynn Monroe, 4 August, 2009 - 2:27pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact