Tachysphe pechumani

Krombein, 1938

Antenna-waving Wasp

Tachysphex pechumani is a small solitary in the Crabronidae, to North America. Females excavate burrows in sandy soil and provision underground with paralyzed orthopteran prey for their larvae. The is part of a of diminutive, high-energy wasps that rarely visit flowers and are most often observed darting among weedy vegetation in open . It is one of roughly 43 Tachysphex species in North America.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tachysphe pechumani: //tæˈkiːsfɛks ˌpɛkjuˈmɑːnaɪ//

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Identification

Tachysphex are generally smaller than the related Liris (6-10 mm versus 9.5-15.4 mm for female L. argentatus). Tachysphex often has the entirely or partially red and terminates in a very pointed , whereas Liris is black with silvery reflective hairs. Tachysphex are proportionately shorter than those of Liris, which are frequently held parallel and straight out from the . Tachysphex is usually considerably smaller than Liris and moves with extreme rapidity. Species-level identification within Tachysphex requires examination of obscure characters such as male genitalia, female pygidium, and sensory areas on antennal segments.

Habitat

Sandy soil environments suitable for burrow excavation; open with weedy vegetation.

Distribution

to North America; recorded from the United States and Canada.

Diet

may take nectar from flowers and honeydew from scale insects; larvae feed on provisioned orthopteran prey.

Life Cycle

Solitary with burrow-nesting lifestyle. Females excavate shallow burrows in sand or soil with multiple underground . Each cell is provisioned with one to eight or more paralyzed orthopteran prey items depending on size; a single is laid on the underside of the of the last prey item placed in the cell. Larvae develop in the provisioned cells.

Behavior

Females exhibit rapid, high-energy movement while digging burrows or seeking prey. Prey is captured by stinging orthopterans into paralysis, then flipped onto their backs and transported by grasping one in the jaws while cradling the body with at least one pair of legs. Prey may be flown back to the nest or hauled overland when too heavy for . Once are provisioned, the tunnel is filled loosely with soil particles, dry vegetation fragments, small pebbles, and debris; the entrance is concealed by kicking sand or soil over it. rarely visit flowers and are difficult to observe due to their constant motion.

Ecological Role

of orthopterans (grasshoppers, katydids, crickets); may contribute to of prey . One study documented three Tachysphex species reducing a valley grasshopper from 25 to 3 per square yard. Subject to by satellite flies (Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae), bee flies (Bombyliidae), velvet ants (Mutillidae), and cuckoo wasps (Chrysididae including Hedychridium).

Human Relevance

May provide of in rangeland ; one of three Tachysphex observed contributing to significant reduction of an population of Oedaleonotus enigma (valley grasshopper) in Idaho.

Similar Taxa

LirisLarger size (9.5-15.4 mm females), proportionately longer held parallel and straight from , black coloration with silvery reflective hairs, and slower movement compared to the smaller, often red-abdomened, extremely rapid Tachysphex.
TachytesGenerally stockier appearance, frequently bright green , and extremely rapid, restless movement (rarely sitting still) compared to Tachysphex.

More Details

Nesting substrate limitations

Females may be thwarted by unsuitable substrates; one observation documented a female repeatedly failing to excavate through asphalt underlying a thin layer of gravel.

Taxonomic history

Described by Krombein in 1938; the Tachysphex currently contains roughly 43 in North America with more likely awaiting formal description or discovery.