Notes on two nests of Ancistrocerus oviventris (Wesmael, 1836), with new records of its prey and brood parasites (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)

Abstract

AbstractTwo nests of Ancistrocerus oviventris (Wesmael, 1836) are described. One nest from Poland was attached to a concrete fence and consisted of 10 mud cells. The second nest from the Crimea was attached to a stone and consisted of three mud cells covered with an additional layer of mud and gravel particles. Females provisioned their cells with moth caterpillars of the families Crambidae and Depressariidae; 5–13 caterpillars were stored per cell. A chalcid wasp Monodontomerus aeneus (Fonscolombe, 1832) was recorded as a parasitoid while a cuckoo wasp Chrysis rutiliventris Abeille, 1879 and a sarcophagid fly Amobia sp. were recorded as kleptoparasites.

Keywords

• Eumenine wasps
• Crambidae
• Depressariidae
• Chrysis ignita-group
• Monodontomerus