Tiphia femorata

Tiphia femorata, often known as a beetle-killing wasp or common tiphiid wasp, is a species of wasp belonging to the family Tiphiidae, subfamily Tiphiinae.

Tiphia femorata
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Tiphiidae
Genus:	Tiphia
Species:	T. femorata
Binomial name
Tiphia femorata Fabricius, 1775
Synonyms
Tiphia rugosa Tournier, 1889 Bethylus ater Klug, 1810 Bethylus pilipennis Klug, 1808 Sphex nigripes Costa, 1858 Sphex palmipes Schrank, 1781 Sphex rufipes Costa, 1858 Tiphia infima Tournier, 1889 Tiphia lativentris Tournier, 1889 Tiphia tournieri Dalla Torre, 1891

Subspecies

Subspecies include:

• Tiphia femorata femorata Fabricius, 1775
• Tiphia femorata vaucheri Tournier, 1901 (Belgium, Spain, North Africa)

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe, the eastern Palearctic realm, and North Africa. It mainly inhabits warmer, dry and semi-arid grasslands and meadows.

Description

The adult males grow up to 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) long, while females reach 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in). The body is completely black, light haired, and the tibiae and femora of the middle and rear pairs of legs are reddish brown. Rather similar species are Tiphia minuta and Tiphia unicolor.

Biology

It is a univoltine species. These wasps can be encountered from June through September feeding on nectar and pollen of flowers (especially on Apiaceae species).

Like most members of Tiphiidae, T. femorata parasitizes by stinging the larvae of various species of Scarabaeidae, though especially hunts beetles of Amphimallon solstitiale. The females can smell larvae of beetles in the soil, then they dig up and drop an egg in their victims. The larvae of T. femorata feed externally on the grubs.

Gallery

• 
  Female
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  Dead female specimen; wings unfolded, antennae curled

Bibliography

• Allen H. W., Jaynes H. A. (1930). Contribution to the taxonomy of Asiatic wasps of the genus Tiphia (Scoliidae). // Proc. U. S. Nat. Museum, 1930. Vol. 76, N 17. 105 p.
• Tsuneki К. (1985). Taxonomic studies of the Japanese species of the genus Tiphia (I). Revision and addition (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae). // Spec. Publ. Jap. Hymen. Assoc. 1985. N 31. P. 1-90.

External links

• Insectconsultancy