Cerceris arelate
Banks, 1912
Cerceris arelate is a solitary predatory in the Crabronidae. It is native to North America and belongs to a known for specialized prey capture, with different Cerceris targeting distinct insect groups. Like other members of its genus, it constructs underground nests and provisions them with paralyzed prey for its larvae.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cerceris arelate: /sɛrˈkɛrɪs ˌæɹəˈleɪti/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Distribution
Recorded from North America, specifically from Canada (Manitoba) and the United States.
Similar Taxa
- Cerceris fumipennisSimilar burrow architecture and nesting , but C. fumipennis specializes almost exclusively on Buprestidae (jewel beetles) and has distinctive three yellow facial markings on females (two on males).
- Cerceris bicornisAnother North American that constructs nearly identical burrows; distinguished by its specialization on weevils (Curculionidae) rather than beetles, and exhibits faster, more powerful than C. fumipennis.
- Cerceris rybyensisA congeneric that preys on small wild bees rather than beetles, demonstrating the -wide pattern of prey specialization.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Working with Cerceris fumipennis—Part 2 | Beetles In The Bush
- Working with Cerceris fumipennis—Part 1 | Beetles In The Bush
- Hymenoptera | Beetles In The Bush | Page 6
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- ID Challenge #19 | Beetles In The Bush