Acroricnus

Ratzeburg, 1852

Acroricnus is a of that parasitize mud-dauber wasps ( ). At least one , A. seductor, has been studied for its and acts as a kleptoparasitoid, consuming and young host in mud-dauber nests. The genus includes eight described species distributed across multiple continents.

Acroricnus stylator by (c) Owen Strickland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Owen Strickland. Used under a CC-BY license.

Acroricnus stylator aequatus by (c) christine123, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by christine123. Used under a CC-BY license.

Acroricnus tricolor by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Acroricnus: //æˈkɹoʊ.ɹɪk.nus//

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

Images

Habitat

Associated with mud-dauber nests, including sheltered locations inside human buildings and unsheltered outdoor nests. Has been observed in where mud-daubers (Sceliphron caementarium) construct their mud nests.

Distribution

Records from Denmark (DK), Norway (NO), and Sweden (SE). within the have broader distributions: A. japonicus occurs in Japan, A. cubensis in Cuba, and A. ambulator, A. nigriscutellatus, A. peronatus, A. seductor, A. stylator, and A. tricolor have various distributions.

Host Associations

mud-dauber wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) - Specifically Sceliphron caementarium documented for A. seductor. Acts as kleptoparasitoid, consuming and young .

Behavior

Females detect nests by tapping the nest surface with their . Upon locating a suitable , the female inserts her through the mud wall, possibly using a mud-softening secretion. Evidence suggests use of echolocation for host , supported by modified antennal tips and thickened fore in females.

Ecological Role

and of mud-dauber . Acts as kleptoparasitoid within nests. Approximately half of host nests may suffer at a given site, with no significant difference between sheltered and unsheltered nests.

Similar Taxa

OsprynchotusAlso of mud-daubers; mentioned alongside Acroricnus as enemies of Sceliphron caementarium
Chrysididae (cuckoo wasps)Different but also of mud-daubers; can be distinguished by metallic coloration and different parasitoid strategy ( laid in rather than through mud wall)

More Details

Species list

Eight recognized: A. ambulator, A. cubensis, A. japonicus, A. nigriscutellatus, A. peronatus, A. seductor, A. stylator, A. tricolor

Parasitism patterns

Study of A. seductor found no correlation between nest size and rate, nor between size and likelihood of parasitism