Spilomena

Shuckard, 1838

Species Guides

Spilomena is a of solitary in the Crabronidae ( ). The genus contains approximately 86 distributed worldwide, with highest diversity in the . Species are known as aphid wasps or thrips-hunting wasps, with documented prey including Psyllidae, Eulophidae, and Thysanoptera. One Australian species, S. subterranea, is known to nest communally in sandy soil.

Spilomena (10.3897-zoologia.38.e55803) Figures 9–14 by Bashir NH, Ma L, Li Q (2021) Taxonomic study of Spilomena (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) with a new species and five new records from China. Zoologia 38: 1-7. https://doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.38.e55803. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Spilomena: /ˌspaɪloʊˈmiːnə/

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Identification

form has been identified as a valuable taxonomic character for distinguishing Spilomena . A key to European and Canary Islands species is available in published literature.

Images

Habitat

Ground-nesting in sandy soil has been documented for S. subterranea in Australia. Nests are typically occupied by 2–4 females and 0–2 males.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution across Palearctic (highest ), Nearctic, Afrotropical, Neotropical, Australasian, and Indomalayan realms. Documented in Europe, Canary Islands, Finland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia.

Diet

Prey includes Psyllidae ( and nymphs), Eulophidae (adults), and Thysanoptera (thrips).

Host Associations

Thysanoptera - preythrips-hunting documented
Psyllidae - prey and nymphs taken as prey by S. subterranea
Eulophidae - prey taken as prey by S. subterranea

Behavior

Communal ground nesting has been documented in S. subterranea, though the level of social remains unknown. Nests contain multiple females and males. Thrips-hunting behavior is characteristic of the .

Similar Taxa

other PemphredoninaeSpilomena can be distinguished by form characteristics; European key available for identification

More Details

Taxonomic History

placement has varied: historically treated as , now placed in Crabronidae Pemphredoninae. Recent taxonomic revisions include synonymization of S. pulawskii with S. curruca, validation of S. differens, and description of S. valkeilai from northern Europe.

Notable Species

S. kimseyae (Antropov 1993) is named for hymenopterist Lynn Kimsey. S. valkeilai was described from southern Finland, Sweden, and Norway. S. subterranea from Australia is the first known to nest communally in the ground.