Symmorphus gracilis
Symmorphus gracilis. Dorsal view
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Genus: Symmorphus
Species:
S. gracilis
Binomial name
Symmorphus gracilis
(Brullé, 1832)
Synonyms
  • Odynerus elegans Wesmael, 1833

Symmorphus gracilis is a species of tube-nesting wasps.[1]

Subspecies

Subspecies include:[2]

  • Symmorphus gracilis gracilis (Brullé, 1832)
  • Symmorphus gracilis libanicus Giordani Soika, 1963

Distribution and habitat

This rather common species is present in most of Europe and in the eastern Palearctic realm.[3] These wasps mainly inhabit meadows, hedge rows, damp places close to streams, and man-made environments.[4]

Description

Side view

Adults of Symmorphus gracilis can reach a length of 7–10 millimetres (0.28–0.39 in) in males, of 8–12 millimetres (0.31–0.47 in) in females.[4] These slender tube-nesting wasps have a black head and furrows on the black thorax. On T1 there are a transverse hull and a median longitudinal groove. The small scales at the base of the forewings are black with a yellow border. Antennae of the males are straight up to the end. In the females there are dimples behind the posterior ocelli.[5]

Biology

Adults can be found from June to August.[4] They made their nest in a variety of locations, mainly in hollow stems, e.g. bramble and elder, but also in cavities in walls and disused plant galls. In these existing cavities the females makes several cells, divided by clay. Larvae feed on insects stored by adults, mainly larvae of a chrysomelid beetle (Chrysomela populi) and of a figwort weevil (Cionus hortulanus).[4][6]

Bibliography

  • Antonio Giordani Soika (1970) Boll.Mus.Civ.Stor.nat.Venezia Contributo alla conoscenza degli Eumenidi del Medio Oriente. Missione Giordani Soika in Iran 1965, III., Volume: 20-21
  • Horst-Günter Woydak (2001) Natur und Heimat Die solitären Faltenwespen: Eumenidae (Lehmwespen) und Masaridae (Honigwespen im Westfälischen Museum für Naturkunde Münster, Volume: 61
  • Michael E. Archer (2002) Yorkshire Naturalists Union The wasps, ants and bees (Hymenoptera: aculeata) of Watsonian Yorkshire

References

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