Patriarchate-behavior
Guides
Trypoxylon clavatum clavatum
Trypoxylon clavatum clavatum is a subspecies of spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. It belongs to the subgenus Trypargilum, characterized by medium to large body size within the genus. The wasp nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow twigs, beetle borings, and abandoned mud dauber nests, provisioning cells with paralyzed spiders for its larvae. Males actively participate in nest guarding and maintenance, a behavior termed 'patriarchate' by naturalist Phil Rau.
Trypoxylon tridentatum
Trypoxylon tridentatum is a spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae, subgenus Trypargilum. It inhabits mesic and xeric habitats in arid regions, particularly the Baja California peninsula. The wasp provisions nest cells with paralyzed spiders as food for its larvae, showing strong preference for orb-weaving spiders in the family Araneidae. Unlike its congener T. politum, which constructs free-standing mud nests, T. tridentatum nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow twigs, beetle borings, and abandoned mud dauber nests.