Ectemnius dilectus
(Cresson, 1865)
Ectemnius dilectus is a solitary in the Crabronidae, tribe Crabronini. It belongs to a of digger wasps that primarily on (), distinguishing them from related genera such as Anacrabro that hunt . The is recorded in North America, with distribution records from Canada including Alberta. As a member of Crabronini, it is , constructing underground nests for rearing offspring.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ectemnius dilectus: //ɛkˈtɛmniəs daɪˈlɛktəs//
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Identification
Ectemnius are distinguished from the similar-looking Anacrabro by the shape of the abdominal underside: Ectemnius has a convex or less concave underside, whereas Anacrabro has a very concave underside of the . Ectemnius can be separated from Lestica and Crabro by a combination of morphological characters including details of and abdominal structure. Specific identification of E. dilectus requires examination of diagnostic morphological features not detailed in available sources.
Images
Distribution
North America; recorded from Canada (Alberta).
Diet
As a member of the tribe Crabronini, Ectemnius dilectus is presumed to provision its nests with () as food for its , consistent with the predominant pattern of the and tribe. However, direct prey records for this specific are not documented in the provided sources.
Behavior
nesting is characteristic of the : females excavate burrows in soil with vertical main tunnels and branches terminating in individual . Each cell is provisioned with multiple items to feed a single .
Ecological Role
As a of , Ectemnius dilectus contributes to of . Its nesting may provide incidental soil aeration.
Similar Taxa
- Anacrabro ocellatusVery similar in general appearance (small, black and approximately 6-7 mm), but distinguished by the very concave underside of the in Anacrabro versus the less concave underside in Ectemnius. Additionally, Anacrabro ocellatus hunts (), specifically lineolaris, rather than .
- LesticaSimilar-looking in the same tribe Crabronini, distinguishable by and abdominal structural details.
- CrabroSimilar-looking in the same tribe Crabronini, distinguishable by and abdominal structural details.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The provided source material primarily discusses Anacrabro ocellatus and only mentions Ectemnius in passing as a comparative . Specific biological details for E. dilectus itself are sparse in the available literature.
Prey specificity
While the tribe Crabronini is predominantly -predatory, and Ectemnius as a is documented as using , -level prey records for E. dilectus specifically are not confirmed in the provided sources.