Trypoxylon
Trypoxylon
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Family: Crabronidae
- Subfamily: Crabroninae
- Tribe: Trypoxylini
- Genus: Trypoxylon
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Trypoxylon: /triːˈpɒksɪlən/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
Trypoxylon is a genus of mud daubers within the Crabronidae family, known for their unique hunting behavior of paralyzing spiders to feed their larvae and their distinctive nesting strategies.
Physical Characteristics
The 'notched' eyes and clavate (club-shaped) abdomen are very distinctive features of the Trypoxylon genus.
Identification Tips
Look for the notched eyes and body shape, which is typical for the genus.
Habitat
The species nest in pre-existing tunnels like beetle borings or construct their nests from mud in various environments.
Distribution
Represented worldwide, with significant numbers in the Palearctic, Nearctic, Afrotropic, Neotropic, Australasia, and Indomalayan realms. 28 species in the US, 16 in Canada.
Diet
Active hunters of spiders, which they paralyze with venom for provisioning their larvae.
Life Cycle
Females build nests and provide paralyzed spiders as food for the larvae.
Reproduction
Nest construction varies; some species create mud nests, while others use existing cavities and seal them with mud.
Ecosystem Role
Trypoxylon wasps play a role in controlling spider populations by hunting them.
Collecting Methods
- Netting adults
- Excavating nests
- Observational field study
Preservation Methods
- Pinning
- Alcohol preservation
- Embedding in resin
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
They are often confused with other wasps due to their predatory nature and nesting habits.
Tags
- Trypoxylon
- Hymenoptera
- Crabronidae
- Mud Daubers