Ancistrocerus antilope explained

Ancistrocerus antilope is a species of wasp of the family Vespidae.[1]

Description

This species is similar to the rarer A. spinolae, with differences including a shining, impunctate propodeum and a pair of yellow spots on the female's scutellum.[2]

Range

Ancistrocerus antilope is present in all Canadian provinces and all continental U.S. states except Alaska, Alabama, and Florida, as well as Europe to Siberia.[3]

Ecology

A. antilope is known to nest in hollow twigs, similar to many Megachilid bees, and the parasite Leucospis affinis has been found in the nests of A. antilope. Whether the parasites can successfully complete their life cycle using the wasp as a host in unknown.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Catalogue of Life : Ancistrocerus antilope (Panzer, 1789) . www.catalogueoflife.org . 8 December 2019.
  2. Web site: Key to northeastern Nearctic Ancistrocerus species. cjai.biologicalsurvey.ca. 2019-12-08.
  3. Web site: Ancistrocerus antilope. cjai.biologicalsurvey.ca. 2019-12-08.
  4. Cowan . David . Parasitism of Ancistrocerus Antilope (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae) by Leucospis Affinis (Hymenoptera: Leucospididae) . The Great Lakes Entomologist . 3 November 2017 . 19 . 3 . 10.22543/0090-0222.1575 . 22 November 2022 . 0090-0222.