Nitela
Latreille, 1809
Nitela is a of solitary in the Crabronidae, tribe Miscophini. The genus has a distribution and was established by Latreille in 1809. As members of the Miscophini, in this genus are presumed to be spider-hunting wasps, though specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented. The genus includes species such as N. amazonica and N. apoensis.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Nitela: //ˈniː.tɛ.lə//
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Identification
Nitela can be distinguished from other Miscophini by a combination of morphological characters including details of clypeal structure and wing venation, though precise diagnostic features require examination. Separation from related genera such as Miscophus and Trypoxylon requires reference to detailed taxonomic keys.
Images
Distribution
distribution; recorded from Europe (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), the Americas (Brazil), and Asia (Philippines).
Ecological Role
As members of the Miscophini, are presumed to be of spiders, potentially contributing to spider in their .
Similar Taxa
- MiscophusBoth are Miscophini of spider-hunting wasps; distinguished by clypeal and genitalic characters
- TrypoxylonSimilar body form and nesting habits in some groups, but Trypoxylon belongs to the tribe Trypoxylini and has distinct wing venation
More Details
Taxonomic placement
Nitela is placed in the tribe Miscophini within Crabroninae. The tribe Miscophini is characterized by on spiders, with females typically provisioning nest with paralyzed spiders as food for larvae.
Data gaps
Most -level for Nitela remains undocumented in accessible literature. The 234 iNaturalist observations suggest field encounterability, but specific , , and ecological relationships are not well established in published sources.