Ammophila procera

Ammophila procera, the common thread-waisted wasp, is a species of thread-waisted wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is a common species, found in southern Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and south to Central America.[1][2][3][4]

Ammophila procera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Genus: Ammophila
Species:
A. procera
Binomial name
Ammophila procera
Dahlbom, 1843
Synonyms[1]
  • Ammophila barbata F. Smith, 1873
  • Ammophila ceres Cameron, 1888
  • Ammophila championi Cameron, 1888
  • Ammophila gryphus F. Smith, 1856
  • Ammophila saeva F. Smith, 1856
  • Ammophila striolata Cameron, 1888
Common thread-waisted wasp, Ammophila procera
Common thread-waisted wasp, Ammophila procera

Ammophila procera generally live in open areas with soft or sandy soil where they can burrow nests. The adult female digs a burrow. After completing the burrow, it seals the entrance and makes flight around the area, memorizing landmarks such as rocks, plants, etc. It uses these landmarks to locate the burrow when it returns, sometimes days later.[5][6]

It then captures and paralyzes prey, usually a moth caterpillar or sawfly larva, and drags it to the burrows where it lays a single egg on the prey. The female then seals the nest with dirt and debris. Despite sealing the nest, some females will "hijack" another's nest, replacing the egg in the nest with their own.[6][7]

The egg typically hatches after two days, and the larva feeds on the caterpillar for about five days before it pupates within the nest. It emerges from the nest with fully formed wings. The adults feed primarily on flower nectar.[7]

References
  1. "Ammophila procera Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  2. "Ammophila procera species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  3. "Ammophila procera". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  4. "Ammophila procera Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  5. Evans, Howard Ensign (1959). "Observations on the nesting behavior of digger wasps of the genus Ammophila". American Midland Naturalist. 62 (2).
  6. Evans, Howard Ensign (1963). Wasp Farm. Cornell University Press.
  7. "Ammophila procera Diversity Web". animaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2018-09-21.


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