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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) » Sphecinae » Prionychini » Prionyx » atratus or subatratus (Prionyx atratus or subatratus)
Photo#503397
Thread-waisted Wasp - Prionyx - female
Copyright © 2011 Jim Moore

Thread-waisted Wasp - Prionyx - Female
Old Airport site near Westwood, elevation 5125', Lassen County, California, USA
July 20, 2010
Size: Body length 28mm
Could this be a genus Prionyx wasp?

This was one of a few of it's kind that was rapidly flying to and fro around some large patches of blooming Naked Stem Buckwheat, Eriogonum nudum, growing alongside the old airport runway. These big wasps did not seem at all interested in the flowers, as were all the abundance of other insects. Perhaps they were hunting for a specific prey of some sort.

My thanks for any further ID help!

Images of this individual: tag all
Thread-waisted Wasp - Prionyx - female Thread-waisted Wasp - Prionyx - female
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Contributed by Jim Moore on 5 April, 2011 - 11:17pm
Last updated 13 August, 2022 - 9:42am

Moved
Moved from Prionyx.
… Bob Biagi, 13 August, 2022 - 9:42am login or register to post comments

Female
Jim, I'm not sure if she is a Prionyx subatratus, but she looks a little bit different than the P. atratus images from the eastern range. (bigger-size?)
OK, I'm preparing close ups of a gal in this genus today, FYI. If I find any more species level info about your wasp, I will let you know.
… Bob Biagi, 2 September, 2015 - 5:11pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Thread-waisted Wasps.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 6 April, 2011 - 6:11am login or register to post comments

I would agree.
Yes, this does look like Prionyx atratus or possibly P. subatratus. Those are the only two all-black species in North America.
… Eric R. Eaton, 6 April, 2011 - 2:03am login or register to post comments

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