Sceliphron spirifex


Sceliphron spirifex is a species of sphecid wasp. It has a medium-sized body (17–27 millimetres or 0.7–1.1 inches), which is dull black with a long, yellow petiole (waist). The legs are black with yellow bands, the antennae are black and the wings are clear.

Sceliphron spirifex
S. spirifex in Tanzania
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hymenoptera
Suborder:
Apocrita
Family:
Sphecidae
Genus:
Sceliphron
Species:
S. spirifex
Binomial name
Sceliphron spirifex
Synonyms [1]
  • Sphex spirifex Linnaeus, 1758
  • Pelopaeus spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Sphex aegyptius Linnaeus, 1758
  • Sphex flavipes Christ, 1791
  • Sceliphron aegyptiacum Klug, 1801
A Mediterranean house gecko in ambush on a nest of a Sceliphron spirifex.
A Sceliphron spirifex offspring emerges out of the nest.

Females build large multi-celled mud nests attached to cliffs, rocks, tree trunks, bridges and buildings. The cells are mass-provisioned with several spiders and sealed with mud.

S. spirifex lives in diverse habitats across Africa and Southern Europe, but is strongly associated with buildings and other man-made structures.

References
  1. Anonymous (January 19, 2006). "Sceliphron" (PDF).


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