Ammophila azteca

Cameron, 1888

Aztec Thread-waisted Wasp

Ammophila azteca is a thread-waisted wasp in the Sphecidae, native to Canada, Mexico, and the continental United States. It ranges from near sea level to over 6,000 feet in elevation. The exhibits distinctive nesting involving pebble-mediated burrow closures and of caterpillar prey for its larvae.

Ammophila azteca by (c) Thilina Hettiarachchi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thilina Hettiarachchi. Used under a CC-BY license.

Mary Foley Benson, Ammophila azteca wasp, 1976 by Tunic Youth. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ammophila azteca: //ˌæ.moʊˈfiː.lə æzˈteɪ.kə//

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Identification

Distinguished from by geographic range and nesting ; definitive morphological diagnostic features not documented in available sources. Two recognized : A. a. azteca (Cameron, 1888) and A. a. clemente (Menke, 1967).

Images

Habitat

Nests in moderately firm soil. Occurs across varied elevations from coastal areas to montane regions above 6,000 feet.

Distribution

Native to Canada, Mexico, and the continental United States.

Diet

feed on nectar. Larvae are provisioned with paralyzed caterpillar larvae (Lepidoptera).

Life Cycle

hatches after approximately two days. Larva feeds for five days before maturing into a cocoon. Female provides parental care throughout development.

Behavior

Females excavate burrows in soil and provision them with paralyzed caterpillars. Multiple nests may be initiated concurrently with concurrent hunting for larvae. Nests are closed using a distinctive pebble-mediated technique: an initial hard closure involves placing a pebble at the entrance followed by scraping sand over it; a temporary closure for active provisioning places a pebble deeper in the tunnel with soil packed above using the ; final closure resembles temporary closures but with pebble placed further down and more extensive soil packing. When returning prey to the nest, flies approximately one meter above ground.

Ecological Role

of caterpillars; contributes to lepidopteran . Nesting activities may influence soil structure.

Similar Taxa

Ammophila abertiSimilar nesting with pebble-mediated closures and concurrent nest initiation, but A. aberti ranges through western North America and exhibits prey-stealing behavior not documented for A. azteca.
Ammophila pictipennisShares -level traits of pebble tool use in nest closure, but distinguished by orange wings, red abdominal coloration, and eastern North American distribution.
Ammophila proceraLargest eastern Ammophila with distinctive silver thoracic stripes; exhibits similar caterpillar provisioning and pebble-mediated nest closure .

More Details

Subspecies

Two recognized: Ammophila azteca azteca Cameron, 1888 and Ammophila azteca clemente Menke, 1967.

Nesting Substrate

Unlike some that prefer sand, A. azteca specifically digs in moderately firm soil.