Cercerini

Cercerini

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cercerini: //kɛrˈkɛriˌnaɪ//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Cerceris intricata graphica P1490595a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Cerceris kennicottii 225801478 by Nell Cant. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Enternest by Philip Careless. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
193 365 - Weevil Wasp - Cerceris insolita, Mason Neck, Virginia, July 12, 2023 (53042437339) by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Cerceris kennicottii 56915656 by Robert Webster. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Cerceris fumipennis female face by Philip Careless. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Summary

Cercerini is a tribe of wasps within the family Philanthidae and consists of two genera, Cerceris and Eucerceris, with a total of approximately 937 described species worldwide. These wasps are notable for their provisioned nests containing beetles, contributing to pest control in their ecosystems.

Physical Characteristics

Members of the tribe Cercerini have distinctive wing venation which can be used to differentiate between the two genera. In Eucerceris, the outer vein of the third submarginal cell meets the marginal cell near its tip, while in Cerceris it meets closer to the center.

Identification Tips

Observe the forewing venation to distinguish between the genera Cerceris and Eucerceris.

Habitat

These wasps are often found in areas where they can hunt for beetles, as they provision their nests with these insects.

Distribution

Cercerini has a wide distribution, with about 110 species present in certain regions and more than 900 species worldwide, predominantly in the genus Cerceris.

Diet

These wasps hunt for beetles from families such as Chrysomelidae, Buprestidae, and Curculionidae to provision their nests.

Life Cycle

Lifecycle information is not explicitly mentioned, but it includes stages typical of wasps, including egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Reproduction

Specific reproductive behaviors are not detailed, but nesting and provisioning with beetles indicate a method typical of predatory wasps.

Ecosystem Role

Cercerini wasps play a role in controlling beetle populations as they prey upon them.

Collecting Methods

  • Net capture during flight
  • Hand collection from nesting sites

Preservation Methods

  • Pinning
  • Alcohol preservation

Similar Taxa

  • Other tribes in Philanthidae
  • Other genera of wasps that provision with prey

Tags

  • Cercerini
  • wasps
  • Hymenoptera
  • Cerceris
  • Eucerceris
  • predatory wasps