Ammophila
Guides
Argochrysis
cuckoo wasps
Argochrysis is a genus of cuckoo wasps (family Chrysididae) containing approximately five described species. Members are obligate cleptoparasites of solitary ground-nesting wasps in the genus Ammophila. The genus is notable for sophisticated learned foraging behaviors, including visual host location during nest excavation, spatial memory for nest locations, and surveillance of multiple nests during host absence.
Argochrysis armilla
Argochrysis armilla is a cleptoparasitic wasp in the family Chrysididae that specializes in attacking ground-nesting sphecid wasps of the genus Ammophila, particularly A. dysmica. This species has evolved sophisticated behavioral adaptations to overcome the temporal and spatial defenses of its hosts, including visual location of digging hosts, spatial learning of nest locations, and surveillance of multiple nests during host absence. Its foraging strategy creates strong selective pressure on host nesting behavior, favoring delayed provisioning and dispersed nest placement. The species was described by Bohart in 1982 and remains poorly known from a natural history perspective beyond its host interactions.
Chionodes arenella
Chionodes arenella is a small gelechiid moth native to eastern North America, ranging from Nova Scotia to Virginia. The species has a wingspan of approximately 20 mm and is distinguished by its clay-colored forewings with contrasting pale veins and dark greyish shading. Larvae are specialized stem borers in beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata).
Thyridanthrax pallidus
Thyridanthrax pallidus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Coquillett in 1887. The genus Thyridanthrax belongs to the subfamily Anthracinae and tribe Villini. Bee flies in this genus are known for their parasitic or kleptoparasitic life history strategies, with females depositing eggs into the nests of other insects. T. pallidus has been observed as a potential parasite of thread-waisted wasps in the genus Ammophila.
Zale
Zale Moths
Zale is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, established by Hübner in 1818. The genus contains numerous species of owlet moths distributed primarily in North America. Larvae of several Zale species are known hosts for parasitoid wasps, including the sphecid wasp Ammophila nigricans. The genus is taxonomically well-established but individual species-level biology remains incompletely documented for many members.