The European potter wasp or European tube wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella) is a species of potter wasp. As an imago (adult), the female collects as many as 20 caterpillars for each nest, which consists of a single cell.[1] Her larval offspring then feed on these inside the nest, which is sealed with mud arranged by her.[1] As adults, they eat nectar and aphidhoneydew.[1] Males cannot sting, and the sting of a female is not painful.[1] They can be found on windows, foraging for nectar on flowers, or searching out small cracks or holes in which to nest.[1]
This wasp is native to Europe, its range including Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Austria, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. In the British Isles it occurs in England, as far north as Stockton-on-Tees, in Wales and at scattered locations in Ireland. It also occurs in Morocco. It is found in a variety of habitats where there is suitable sandy and clay soil, such as river banks, coastal areas, parkland, open woodland and urban areas.[2] The species became established in Auckland, New Zealand in 1987, and is now found even in Otago (near the country's southern extremity).[1]
Ecologyedit
In late spring, the wasps emerge from their over-wintering sites and feed on nectar and pollen from such plants as sea-holly, bramble, hogweed and thistles. After mating, the females search for suitable nest sites; these are usually cavities in plants such as hollow stems, pith cavities of dead twigs or the disused tunnels made by wood-boring insects. Inside these tubes, the cells are arranged linearly, with a clay partition between them. The female lays an egg in the first cell and then stocks it with several paralysed caterpillars, before sealing it with a clay plug. Further cells are made in a similar manner. Each wasp egg hatches in a few days and the larva takes ten or twelve days to consume its supply of caterpillars. After a short rest, or an extended period of diapause, depending on the time of year, the larva spins a cocoon and the adult emerges about a fortnight later. It moistens the clay plug to soften it before emerging into the open.[2]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ancistrocerus gazella.
Wikispecies has information related to Ancistrocerus gazella.
ancistrocerus, gazella, european, potter, wasp, european, tube, wasp, species, potter, wasp, imago, adult, female, collects, many, caterpillars, each, nest, which, consists, single, cell, larval, offspring, then, feed, these, inside, nest, which, sealed, with,. The European potter wasp or European tube wasp Ancistrocerus gazella is a species of potter wasp As an imago adult the female collects as many as 20 caterpillars for each nest which consists of a single cell 1 Her larval offspring then feed on these inside the nest which is sealed with mud arranged by her 1 As adults they eat nectar and aphid honeydew 1 Males cannot sting and the sting of a female is not painful 1 They can be found on windows foraging for nectar on flowers or searching out small cracks or holes in which to nest 1 European potter waspCumnor Hill OxfordScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder HymenopteraFamily VespidaeGenus AncistrocerusSpecies A gazellaBinomial nameAncistrocerus gazella Panzer 1798 Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 2 Ecology 3 References 4 Further readingDistribution and habitat editThis wasp is native to Europe its range including Norway Sweden the Netherlands France Spain Germany Italy Poland Austria Ukraine Romania and Bulgaria In the British Isles it occurs in England as far north as Stockton on Tees in Wales and at scattered locations in Ireland It also occurs in Morocco It is found in a variety of habitats where there is suitable sandy and clay soil such as river banks coastal areas parkland open woodland and urban areas 2 The species became established in Auckland New Zealand in 1987 and is now found even in Otago near the country s southern extremity 1 Ecology editIn late spring the wasps emerge from their over wintering sites and feed on nectar and pollen from such plants as sea holly bramble hogweed and thistles After mating the females search for suitable nest sites these are usually cavities in plants such as hollow stems pith cavities of dead twigs or the disused tunnels made by wood boring insects Inside these tubes the cells are arranged linearly with a clay partition between them The female lays an egg in the first cell and then stocks it with several paralysed caterpillars before sealing it with a clay plug Further cells are made in a similar manner Each wasp egg hatches in a few days and the larva takes ten or twelve days to consume its supply of caterpillars After a short rest or an extended period of diapause depending on the time of year the larva spins a cocoon and the adult emerges about a fortnight later It moistens the clay plug to soften it before emerging into the open 2 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ancistrocerus gazella nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Ancistrocerus gazella a b c d e f Crowe A 2002 Which New Zealand Insect Auckland N Z Penguin p 71 ISBN 0 14 100636 6 a b Ancistrocerus gazella Panzer 1798 Bees Wasps and Ants Recording Society Further reading editBerry J A 1989 Ancistrocerus gazella Vespoidea Eumenidae a first record for New Zealand New Zealand entomologist 12 63 65 PDF This potter wasp related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ancistrocerus gazella amp oldid 1019154380, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
