Insect or Invertebrates Identification - DONE

[Toko]

So you have overcome your doubts with distribution and all

[ExFmem]

So you have overcome your doubts with distribution and all

Yes, thanks to you! Your link is where I got the distribution from My Guide (2002 Picker, Griffiths, and Weaving) is not quite up to snuff, at least as far as this species. Things change so fast in the invertebrate world, it makes your head spin , and makes one utter unladylike comments

On to the Cuckoo Wasps

[ExFmem]

To be added to existing entries, please:

(Thread-waisted Wasp Ammophila ferrugineipes)


There are 18 similar species of Ammophila in South Africa.

Female shown using the comb-like sand rakes on the fore tarsi for excavating her tunnel. Nossob Camp Walking Trail Nov. 2012







"A. ferrugineipes practised a form of progressive provisioning and maintained several nests at a time, the only Afrotropical species, and the fifth species worldwide, known so far to do so."

From - "Nesting strategies in some southern African species of Ammophila (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)"
(Journal of Natural History Volume 23, Issue 1, 1989)

[ExFmem]

Can someone confirm this identification before I go to the trouble of writing it up?


Mata Mata in KTP Oct. 2013

Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Chrysidoidea
Family: Chrysididae Cuckoo Wasps
Subfamily: Chrysidinae
Genus: Spintharina

(I don't know which species it is, perhaps someone can help me there, as well. Thanks!)

[Toko]

Cool photos, ExFmem

Added

[nan]

it takes the sand in the first (of the six) paws, then carry a little bit further

[Toko]

Check here: http://www.koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedo ... le/424/419

[BluTuna]

Fantastic shot ExFmem along with the Thread-Wasted Wasp pictures.

[ExFmem]

Thanks BluTuna. Insects are such amazing creatures, glad to share this appreciation of them with you. Your contributions in this area are extraordinary! Keep up the great work!

Thanks for the link, Toko. A brief overview just shows Parnopes, Stilbum, and Chrysis, but nothing for Spintharina. Will read more carefully later. Will have to see if they are synonyms or maybe they just didn't find that Genus

I got that ID from my insect guide, but it seems somewhat out of date in some instances. The photo in the book looks exactly like my pic, but will dig deeper. Thanks for your effort!

[Toko]

Had a look at several genera and there a some look alikes I think it is very difficult to tell the genus within the subfamily