Sceliphrinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sceliphrinae: //skɛˈlɪf.rɪˌniː//

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Summary

Sceliphrinae is a subfamily of slender wasps characterized by their mud-nesting behavior and prey capturing habits. They are essential to their ecosystems for their roles in pest control and pollination.

Physical Characteristics

Sceliphrinae are characterized by their slender, elongated bodies and long, thread-like waists. They typically have a shiny, metallic coloration often in blues or greens, and possess long legs and antennae.

Identification Tips

Look for their distinctive long waists and the absence of a distinct pronotal lobe. They are often found mud-nesting, with behaviors such as foraging for prey to provision their nests.

Habitat

Sceliphrinae are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including gardens, forests, and grasslands where they can access mud for nesting materials and food sources for their larvae.

Distribution

Sceliphrinae have a widespread distribution, with species found in various regions across the world, particularly in temperate and tropical areas.

Diet

Adults primarily feed on nectar from flowers, while larvae are typically provisioned with paralyzed prey, often spiders, captured by the adult wasps.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Sceliphrinae involves the adult wasp searching for suitable nesting sites to construct their mud nests, where they lay their eggs on food provisions for the larvae.

Reproduction

Female wasps construct nests from mud, lay eggs on the prey items, and seal them. Each nest is typically a solitary chamber but can also contain multiple cells.

Predators

Common predators include birds and larger insects that may prey on adult wasps or their larvae.

Ecosystem Role

Sceliphrinae play a crucial role in controlling spider populations and contribute to pollination in their environments as adult wasps feed on nectar.

Collecting Methods

• Netting flying adults
• Collecting mud nests from natural substrata

Preservation Methods

• Drying in a warm environment
• Storage in entomological pins for display

Evolution

The subfamily Sceliphrinae is believed to have evolved from ancient wasp groups and shares common characteristics with other wasps in the family Sphecidae.

Similar Taxa

• Sphecinae
• Larrinae
• Pompilinae

Misconceptions

It is often mistakenly believed that Sceliphrinae are aggressive; however, they are generally not prone to sting unless provoked.

Tags

• wasps
• Sceliphrinae
• Hymenoptera
• Sphecidae
• mud wasps