Other Common Names
Red-and-black Mason Wasp (note: applies to several species, particularly in Florida)
Red-marked Keyhole Wasp
Red-marked Pachodynerus
Explanation of Names
Pachodynerus erynnis (Lepeletier, 1841)
Size
Forewing: ♂ ~9 mm, ♀ 10.5–11 mm
(1)Identification
P. erynnis is the only red-marked species of its genus in the US (Matthews & Gonzalez 2004). However, the same general color pattern is shared by various Eumeninae species in Florida (Euodynerus, Parancistrocerus, Stenodynerus). Pachodynerus erynnis can be readily distinguished easily from these look-alikes by the absence of a red spot behind the eyes, in addition to structural differences (e.g. T1 of the abdomen).
P. erynnis Face, ♀ Face, ♂
Range
se US (occasionally strays into so. ON)
(1)Habitat
Often nests under siding boards of buildings
Food
Adults are nectar feeders and hunt caterpillars as food for larvae
Life Cycle
Solitary. A parent wasp builds mud cells or uses empty cells of other mud-building wasp species, provisioning the nest with caterpillars. One larva per cell.
Remarks
seen using empty cells built by
Zeta argillaceum, a neotropical species recently introduced to Florida. May also re-use nests of mud-dauber wasps or build its own.
probably parasitized by
Chrysis angolensisSee Also
In Florida, there are several other species with a red-and-black color pattern. Several of these are found in local subspecies.
Euodynerus apopkensis E. boscii E. castigatus
Parancistrocerus fulvipes Par. histro Par. salcularis
Stenodynerus histrionalis S. fundatiformis S. lineatifrons
Print References
Matthews R.W., Gonzalez J.M. (2004) Nesting biology of
Zeta argillaceum (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) in southern Florida, US. Fla Entomol 87: 37-40.
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