''Ammophila aberti'' is a species of
thread-waisted wasp
The Sphecidae are a cosmopolitan family of wasps of the suborder Apocrita that includes sand wasps, mud daubers, and other thread-waisted wasps.
The name Sphecidae was formerly given to a much larger grouping of wasps. This was found to be ...
in the family
Sphecidae
The Sphecidae are a cosmopolitan family of wasps of the suborder Apocrita that includes sand wasps, mud daubers, and other thread-waisted wasps.
The name Sphecidae was formerly given to a much larger grouping of wasps. This was found to be p ...
.
[
It is found in western and central North America, from Canada to Mexico,Discover Life]
/ref> in open, semi-arid
A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...
locations.[
]
Mating
The male rides on the female's back, using his mandibles
In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movable bone ...
to hold onto the back of her head. The female must move her abdomen upwards for them to copulate successfully.
Nesting
The female of this species digs its nest in firm sand or muddy areas. While digging, the wasp emits a buzz that can be heard from over four meters away. It flies the soil it excavates away from the burrow.
Tunnels are several centimeters long, usually straight, sometimes slightly curved or angled. The round cell at the bottom of the tunnel is 18-20mm in diameter.
''Ammophila aberti'' prey on geometrid
The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''metro ...
larvae, providing up to 10 for a nest. Gathering enough prey for their larvae takes over two days. During this time it will temporarily close the entrance, open it to deposit prey, and then close it again. This temporary closure is achieved by pulling a pebble over the opening and pushing sand over it. After the nest has been fully provisioned, the wasp will close the burrow again by jamming pebbles inside it and kicking the dirt or sand down. Sometimes it will only use dirt or sand. Once the fill material has reached the surface, it will use a rock or some other hard material to press down the dirt.
See also
*
References
Sphecidae
Articles created by Qbugbot
Insects described in 1852
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