eumenid? - Ancistrocerus gazella

Moved

… Beatriz Moisset, 29 October, 2006 - 6:56am

Ancistrocerus gazella, female (MD)

The yellow band of the metanotum distinguishes this species from A. parietum. Both species have been introduced from the Palaearctic region. A. gazella has been in eastern North America at least since 1961 (NY: NY City) but was confused with A. parietum until recently (see Buck, M., 2006: J. Ent. Soc. Ontario, 136: 37-52, in press). I have seen material from MA, DE, NY, NJ and Ontario. Maryland appears to be a new state record. A. gazella appears to be most common in anthropogenic habitats such as suburbs, etc.

… Matthias Buck, 25 October, 2006 - 4:15pm

OOPS! Mea maxima culpa - Ancistrocerus gazella.

And I should have known: ironically, I have several pinned specimens of both species, and most of them are A. gazella!
The cause of my mistake (they are by no way excuses): - I ignored A. gazella too had crossed the Ocean (had I known, I'd have been more careful), and some mediterranean populations of A. parietum do have yellow on metanotum.
But a second decisive criterion is visible here: the sharply pointed angles of pronotum, typical of A. gazella. So you are completely right, and I was utterly wrong.
Matthias, thank you for dedicating time to "put back the clocks at the right time", as we say in French. I've seen you did that for many other unsolved Eumenine wasps pictures.
The only good news: info I gave for A. parietum remains true for A. gazella too. These two pictures have now to be moved at the right place, and I'm sorry for this countertime.

… Richard Vernier, 29 October, 2006 - 3:52am

One more from overseas - Ancistrocerus parietum (female).

I had totally forgotten that besides the three famous social Vespids (Vespa crabro, Vespula germanica, Polistes dominulus), a fourth one, solitary (thus belonging to subfamily Eumeninae), had been introduced from Europe.
Although the yellow markings are rather more developed, on average, than on members of its species in Western Switzerland, they do match perfectly with most specimens from Mediterranean region. After all, latitude of Maryland is fairly Southern...

… Richard Vernier, 19 September, 2006 - 9:33am

New species

I created a page and also added it to the list of non-native species. Can you add any more information on this species? Does it have a common name? Is the correct spelling parietum or parietus? Just asking. Thanks.

… Beatriz Moisset, 22 September, 2006 - 3:44pm

parietum is the correct spelling...

Because this is not an adjective, but a noun at plural genitive. This means something like "from the walls". Actually, this species nests in virtually all kind of cavities, not only small holes in old walls.
In its European homeland, this is rather a late season species, most often encountered between mid-august and early october. Female hunts for virtually all kinds of small hairless caterpillars, even those of some butterflies, which is rare among Eumeninae (most other Ancistrocerus hunt for Gelechiid, Tortricid or Pyralid moths caterpillars).

… Richard Vernier, 24 September, 2006 - 6:58am

Thanks

Thanks for the info, I am adding it to the guide page.

… Beatriz Moisset, 24 September, 2006 - 11:01am

Thank you Richard! Interestin

Thank you Richard! Interesting. Now I have to find another for more/better shots, or capture. My luck, I will never see another in my life.

… Stephen Schueman, 19 September, 2006 - 7:17pm

These shots are not so bad...

And I can hardly do better on the field with insects of this fairly modest size (I think you've slightly overestimated the total length, which rarely exceeds 15 mm).
Looking for them at flowering Goldenrod or Ivy would help the luck, and if you don't find this species again, you're liable to see many other interesting Vespids there.

… Richard Vernier, 20 September, 2006 - 3:09am