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Pollen Wasps (Masarinae)
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Pseudomasaris
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Pseudomasaris basirufus
Photo#395601
Copyright © 2010
Tom Bentley
Wasp -
Pseudomasaris basirufus
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area - Coronado National Forest, Pima County, Arizona, USA
May 8, 2010
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Contributed by
Tom Bentley
on 14 May, 2010 - 6:00pm
Last updated 15 May, 2010 - 3:28pm
Congratulations, Tom, for the find! But species inconclusive -
This is where to observe most of the females, in
Phacelia
flowers. It is where most of the females collect pollen and nectar for their offspring.
As to species, while the males of
P. basirufus
and
maculifrons
are very distinct from each other (antennae differ; eye distance differs considerably - much closer together in
maculifrons
), the females are more difficult to separate. Color is rather variable, with both spp. showing at least some red. The diagnostic characters that separate females of these two spp. are:
1.
a small central white spot on the frons of
maculifrons
, but not in
basirufus
;
2.
mandibles with at least a small white spot in
basirufus
, but brown mandibles in
maculifrons
.
Neither of those characters are visible in this photo, so I'd say it could be either one since both spp. occur in Pima County.
Lastly,
maculifrons
is larger on average. This individual seems on the slightly larger side, but we can't tell with certainty.
…
Hartmut Wisch
, 26 June, 2010 - 6:39pm
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Moved
Moved from
ID Request
.
…
Tom Bentley
, 14 May, 2010 - 6:52pm
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Or might it be...
a Pollen Wasp (Masarinae)? It looks a lot like
Pseudomasaris basirufus
.
A possibility to consider, at least, while waiting for the experts.
…
Ken Wolgemuth
, 14 May, 2010 - 6:41pm
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thats it! I had fun that phot
thats it! I had fun that photo before but couldnt find it when I uplaoded this one.
…
Tom Bentley
, 14 May, 2010 - 6:53pm
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Not so fast....
I think this is more likely the female of
P. maculifrons
, the males of which Margarethe and I photographed hilltopping earlier in the year. Aside: Would really enjoy meeting you the next time you are out here! I know I could learn a lot about photography from you :-)
…
Eric R. Eaton
, 15 May, 2010 - 2:46am
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Hey Eric
I am not sure if I agree it is a female. It seems to really match the other species. Heck even the follow it is pollinating on looks the same.
I will let you know the next time I come out....likely in the fall. Take care!
Tom
…
Tom Bentley
, 15 May, 2010 - 3:21pm
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Definitely a female, Tom
...from the relatively short length of the antennae, and their somewhat smaller, narrower "clubs". Compare to the male below:
…
Aaron Schusteff
, 4 June, 2017 - 3:47pm
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