Isodontia Elegans Now in Michigan (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Sphecinae)

Isodontia elegans (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), one of the “grass- carrying wasps,” previously known only from the western U.S., is now reported from southeastern Michigan, and appears to have spread across the eastern half of the United States in a relatively short period

Distribution and Biology of the Sphecine Wasps of Michigan (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Sphecinae)

Biological information and distribution maps are provided for the 26 species of thread-waisted wasps that occur in Michigan. Podium luctuosum is a new state record. Sixty percent of the eastern North America sphecine fauna is represented in Michigan

A New Host Family for \u3ci\u3eLyroda Subita\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Lyroda subita, a sphecid that ordinarily stocks its cells with Gryllidae, is reported provisioning a two-celled nest in upstate New York with Tridactylidae. The structure of the nest, depth of celis, stages of wasps, and degree of paralysis of the prey are described

Late Summer-Fall Solitary Wasp Fauna of Central New York (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae, Pompilidae, Sphecidae)

Eighty-one species of primarily ground-nesting solitary wasps belonging to the families Tiphiidae, Pompilidae and Sphecidae were observed, collected and identified from six sandy and gravelly study areas in Cayuga and Onondaga Counties, New York. The observations and collections were made 1 September-3 November 1966,1 September-l November 1967 and 13 September-29 October 1984, with some species (Ammophila urnaria, Diodontus franclemonti) nesting through the entire months of September and October. An attempt to associate extended flight season with overnight resting site, geographic distribution, taxonomic affinity and prey type is made, but only the association with prey type appears to have any validity

Range Extensions for Species of Sphecidae (Hymenoptera) in the Northeastern United States

The ranges of 10 Nearctic species of Sphecidae, Spilomena pusilla, Tachytes parvus, Solierella plenoculoides, Pison agile, Entomognathus lenapeorum, Rhopalum clavipes, Crabro hilaris, C. tenuis, Alysson conicus and Lestiphorus cockerelli, are extended in the northeastern U.S. based upon collections made in Pennsylvania and New York. The first prey record for a North American species of Lestiphorus, cockerelli, is included

Observations on the Nesting of \u3ci\u3eCrabro Tenuis\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Three nests of Crabro tenuis were studied during June 1971-1972 in Oswego County, New York. Females constructed shallow but lengthy, multicelled nests in sand with the cells being built in clusters, sometimes in series. Females plugged the entrances with damp sand and occupied the burrows during midday. Paralyzed prey were stored head inward at the end of the burrow. The deeper cells in a cluster were excavated and provisioned first and the shallower cells built and stored later, as determined by the developmental stages of the wasps within the cells. From four to seven paralyzed, adult male flies were placed in a fully provisioned cell with their venters toward the center. Such a cell usually held only one species of fly. Provisions consisted of the suborders Brachycera and Cyclorrhapha and comprised the families Rhagionidae, Anthomyiidae and Tachinidae. An egg was affixed about equally to the left or right side of the neck of a fly and this prey was placed against or near the wall of the cell. The nesting traits of C. tenuis were compared with those of other members of the Cribrarius group, C. advena of the Advena, group, C. venator of the Tumidus group and species in the Hilaris group

First record of Spilomena mocsaryi Kohl, 1898 (Hymenoptera) from Malta with a check-list of Maltese Crabronidae

Until now the Crabronidae fauna of the Maltese Islands comprised 45 species in 5 subfamilies. Recently, one of us (EX) while studying insect visitors on flowers of Capparis orientalis found a new crabronid species from Malta, Spilomena mocsaryi Kohl, 1898. A check-list of the 46 species of Crabronidae so far recorded from the Maltese Islands is provided.peer-reviewe

Further Observations on the Nesting Behavior of \u3ci\u3eLiris Argentatus\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

A three-celled nest of Liris argentatus was excavated and examined in upstate New York. The nest was constructed from the terminus of an abandoned cicada-killer burrow and the cells contained 1-4 incompletely paralyzed Gryllus pennsylvanicus as prey. Two of the three cells were cleptoparasitized by the satellite fly Senotainia trilineata. The components of the ecology and behavior of L. argentatus we observed are compared with those from previous studies on this species

\u3ci\u3eDiploplectron Peglowi,\u3c/i\u3e A New Record for Michigan (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Astatinae)

Diploplectron peglowi is recorded from Michigan for the first time. Collecting data indicate that D. peglowi is probably bivoltine and widespread but not common within the state. This is only the second state east of the Mississippi River in which D. peglowi has been found

A Note on the Nesting of \u3ci\u3eMimesa Lutaria\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Five nests of Mimesa lutaria (Fabricius) were excavated and studied at Cranberry Lake, S1. Lawrence County, NY. The nests were shallower than those of other species previously studied, yet the tumuli were large and conspicuous. An average of about 11 adult and nymphal cicadellids were stored in a cell, except for one cell that held five Delphacodes sp. (Delphacidae)