Nest Characteristics and Prey Selection of Sceliphron destillatorium (Apoidea, Sphecidae) on the Territory of the Rivnenskyi Nature Reserve

Abstract

The nesting behaviour and prey selection of Sceliphron destillatorium remains poorly studied in Ukraine. In the present study we analysed a total of 59 nests of S. destillatorium. The main morphometric parameters of S. destillatorium nests, especially cell length and width, were determined by measuring the nest cells. The spiders found in the nest cells were identified to determine the trophic relationships of the S. destillatorium larvae. The main prey of S. destillatorium were found to be terrestrial orb-weavers (Araneidae), crab-weavers (Thomisidae), tangle-weavers (Theridiidae), with a clear predominance of Araneidae. Six species of spiders previously undocumented in the Rivnenskyi Nature Reserve were discovered.

Keywords

• hymenoptera
• wasps
• nests
• morphometry
• spiders
• ukraine