Mason Wasp - Ancistrocerus campestris

Ancistrocerus campestris

This is Ancistrocerus campestris. Its scutellum and metanotum seem to show a "smiling face". In addition to the shape of the apical band on tergite 1 this gives the species a fairly distinctive appearance.

… Matthias Buck, 19 August, 2005 - 12:43pm

Thanks, any references? Plus, A. antilope

Thanks very much for your help with this species. Do you have any summary of references so we can write some information on the guide page? (I see you are an expert in insect systematics at the University of Guleph--happy to put it down as personal communication based on your knowledge, of course.) Certainly, we could use an editor with your expertise, if you are willing--then you could write guide pages yourself. You just have to ask Troy Bartlett (or?) John Van Dyk.

Again, thanks.

In another matter, do you think this wasp:

is A. antilope? That had been a tentative identification from another wasp expert.

Again, thanks for any advice.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 16 February, 2006 - 8:22am

identified at the species level elsewhere

The pictures nr. #7376 and two others, taken by Mr. Patrick Coin in NC, show exactly the same species, so this small mason wasp seems to be fairly frequent, at least in the South-Eastern States. Should the ID as Ancistrocerus birenimaculatus be confirmed, a folder especially devoted to this species could be useful. As a european amateur "specialist" of the Vespid wasps, I can only confirm that the belonging to the genus Ancistrocerus is more than likely, but I'm unable, of course, to reach the species level.

… Richard Vernier, 8 March, 2005 - 9:05am