Dielis tejensis

Szafranski, 2023

Dielis tejensis is a recently described scoliid to Texas, first known from male specimens and later from mtDNA-verified females. The exhibits strong in body structure and color pattern, with females previously misidentified as Dielis plumipes fossulana. It is notable as the first documented case of partial seasonal in , correlated with a multi-generational and potential of female stages.

Dielis tejensis (191250371) by pufferchung. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dielis tejensis: //ˈdaɪəlɪs teɪˈhɛnsɪs//

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

Identification

Females closely resemble Dielis plumipes but can be distinguished by morphological differences detailed in the updated to Nearctic Dielis ; males and females differ markedly in body structure and color pattern. Seasonal forms show phenotypic variation.

Images

Habitat

East-central Texas savannas and prairies, including open woodland, savanna, and grassland on sandy and loamy soils with clay-loam bottomlands; humid subtropical climate (Cfa Köppen ) with long hot summers, mild winters, and rainfall not exceeding 40 inches; elevations 10–160 m.

Distribution

; to Texas. Documented from Burleson, Washington, Colorado, and Harris counties; previously more common in Harris County but recently declined.

Seasonality

Active during spring and summer; multi-generational with more than one per year; partial seasonal documented with different phenotypes occurring at different times of year.

Diet

forage for nectar, particularly from Hymenopappus artemisiifolius (Asteraceae); develop as of scarabaeoid .

Host Associations

  • Hymenopappus artemisiifolius - nectar sourceMajor nectaring with distribution correlated to that of D. tejensis
  • Scarabaeoidea - Larval development as of ; specific unknown

Life Cycle

Multi-generational with more than one per year; partial seasonal present; female stages may enter , potentially contributing to observed male-biased sex ratio.

Behavior

visit to forage for nectar; females are , excavating burrows to access for ; exhibits alloreferent in females.

Ecological Role

Potential agent for ; contributes to of flowering plants while foraging.

Similar Taxa

  • Dielis plumipesFemales of D. tejensis most closely resemble D. plumipes and were previously confused with this
  • Dielis plumipes fossulanaPartially with D. tejensis; females were historically misidentified as this

Tags

Sources and further reading