Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Rhydinofoenus Bradley, 1909 was used in older literature for 12 of the 15 nearctic species currently placed here
(1) Numbers
15 spp. in our area
(2)(3)(1)
1. Gasteruption amputatum: western (AZ, CO)
2. Gasteruption assectator: transcontinental (NS west to AK, south to w. NC, ne KS, AZ, & n. CA)
3. Gasteruption barnstoni: transcontinental (NS west to AK, south to NM, AZ, & n. CA, ne. WV, c. OH, n. IL, s. MB, & s. AB)
4. Gasteruption enode: western (AZ, se CA)
5. Gasteruption floridanum: eastern (s. ME west to s. WI & ne KS, south to GA, FL, & s. TX)
6. Gasteruption kaweahense: southern (s. LA, se TX, c+s CA)
7. Gasteruption kirbii : northeastern (NS, PE, NB, ON, QC; NY) and western (s. BC; n. CA, CO, n ID, OR, w. WA, nw. WY)
8. Gasteruption nevadae: southwestern (n+s CA, s. NM, w. NV)
9. Gasteruption occidentale: western (nw MT west to s. BC, south to AZ & s. CA)
10. Gasteruption pattersonae: western (s. ID, n. UT, c. WA, south to s. CA)
11. Gasteruption septentrionale: western (sw. AB, BC; n. AZ, w. CO, se OR)
12. Gasteruption striatum: western (ne. ID west to sw. BC, south to w. NV & s. CA)
13. Gasteruption tarsatorium: eastern (QC south to e SC, west to IA, ne. KS & MO); s. AZ,
14. Gasteruption turbinatum: se AZ
15. Gasteruption visaliae: western (s. TX, s. AZ, nw. OR south to s. CA)
Identification
Body slender; antenna with 12 flagellomeres in female, 11 in male; propleura long and neck-like, clearly separating head from pronotum; metasoma attached so high on propodeum that it appears to touch metanotum; metatibia strongly clavate in both sexes; ovipositor moderately to very long.
(4)
Keys by Townes (1950) for all 15 species (treated under
Gasteruption and
Rhydinofoenus)
(3) and Smith (1996) for the 5 eastern species.
(1)
Wing venation
Range
Common in Canada and n. US
Habitat
Adults found on flowers in fields, meadows.
Season
Jun-Aug in MN, May-Sep in NC
(5)Food
Adults feed on flowers and appear to favor Apiaceae. Larvae are predators or predator-inquilines of other Hymenoptera that nest in twigs or other woody sites.
Remarks
Gasteruption have a characteristic hovering flight with the swollen metatibiae hanging down so that the insect resembles a helicopter carrying a large load on a cable.
(4)
Several species of
Gasteruption are parasitic in bee's and wasp's nests in twigs and wood.
(6)