Ammophila aberti

Ammophila aberti is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae.[1][2][3][4]

Ammophila aberti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Genus: Ammophila
Species:
A. aberti
Binomial name
Ammophila aberti
Haldeman, 1852
Synonyms[1]
  • Ammophila tarsata F. Smith, 1856
  • Ammophila yarrowi Cresson, 1875
  • Sphex transversus Fernald, 1934

It is found in western and central North America, from Canada to Mexico,[5] in open, semi-arid locations.[6]

Mating

The male rides on the female's back, using his mandibles to hold onto the back of her head. The female must move her abdomen upwards for them to copulate successfully.[7]

Nesting

The female of this species digs its nest in firm sand or muddy areas. While digging, the wasp emits a buzz that can be heard from over four meters away. It flies the soil it excavates away from the burrow.

Tunnels are several centimeters long, usually straight, sometimes slightly curved or angled. The round cell at the bottom of the tunnel is 18-20mm in diameter.

Ammophila aberti prey on geometrid larvae, providing up to 10 for a nest. Gathering enough prey for their larvae takes over two days. During this time it will temporarily close the entrance, open it to deposit prey, and then close it again. This temporary closure is achieved by pulling a pebble over the opening and pushing sand over it. After the nest has been fully provisioned, the wasp will close the burrow again by jamming pebbles inside it and kicking the dirt or sand down. Sometimes it will only use dirt or sand. Once the fill material has reached the surface, it will use a rock or some other hard material to press down the dirt.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Ammophila aberti Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  2. "Ammophila aberti". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  3. Pulawski, Wojciech J. "Catalog of Sphecidae". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  4. Discover Life
  5. Evans, Howard E (1959). ""Observations on the Nesting Behavior of Digger Wasps of the Genus Ammophila."". The American Midland Naturalist. 62 (2): 449–473. doi:10.2307/2422538. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  6. Powell, Jerry A. (1964). "Additions to the Knowledge of the Nesting Behavior of North American Ammophila (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)."". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 37 (3): 240–258. Retrieved 16 June 2023.


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