Official name:
Synonyms:
Ancistrocerus nigricornis [Soortenregister]
Odynerus nigricornis (Curtis 1826)
see more on: www.gbif.org

1. DISTRIBUTION
A. nigricornis is an uncommon wasp [Waarneming.nl] that can be found throughout the Netherlands [Waarneming.nl],[Martynova & Fateryga 2015].
2. BEHAVIOUR
2.1. ACTIVITY
The species is active from March to end of September [Waarneming.nl].
The females are the only Ancistrocerus wasps that overwinter and are active early in the year starting in March before the other species are active in May [Breugel 2014]. This makes them easy to identify during that period. the males die after mating in the autumn [Breugel 2014]. the females have mated last summer and are already ready to lay eggs [Peeters et al. 2004].
As of June the new generation emerges. The species is bivoltine [Schneider 1991].
2.2. DEVELOPMENT
They nest in all kinds of bore holes, natural or artificial. In my bee hotels they are interested in nesting holes with a diameter of ±5 mm which is in compliance with the literature that states holes with a diameter of 4 – 5 mm [Breugel 2014],[Schneider 1991], although the species does not have a clear preference according to Buderiene et al. [Budriene et al. 2004], with extremes from 2 to 10 millimeter [Schneider 1991],[Budriene et al. 2004],[Ivanov & Fateryga 2004].
The females are regular guests on the bee hotels, see also here.
3. PLANT RELATIONS
3.1. WOOD TYPES
The following wood types are mentioned in literature as medium for the wasp to built her nests in:
Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family) | Buddleja davidii (butterfly bush) [eigen observatie] |
3.2. FOOD PLANTS
The following plant species are mentioned in literature as food sources:
Apiaceae [Dorow 1990] (Umbellifers) | – |
Asteraceae (Composite family) | Solidago (Goldenrod) [Dorow 1990] – Solidago gigantea (Giant goldenrod) [own observation] |
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family) | Symphoricarpus [Dorow 1990] |
Grossulariaceae | Ribes [Dorow 1990] |
Hypericaceae (Wort family) | Hypericum [Dorow 1990] |
Lamiaceae (Mint family) | Ballota [Dorow 1990] |
Liliaceae (Lily family) | Allium [Dorow 1990] |
Polemoniaceae (Phlox family) | Phlox [Dorow 1990] |
Polygonaceae (Knotweed family) | Polygonum [Dorow 1990] |
Resedaceae (Mignonette family) | Reseda [Dorow 1990] |
Rosaceae (Rose family) | Rubus [Dorow 1990] |
Salicaceae (Willow family) | Salix [Dorow 1990] |

4. PREY RELATIONS
The species uses larvae of Tortricidae (Leafroller) moths [Martynova & Fateryga 2015],[Peeters et al. 2004] for her brood.
The following species and groups occurring in the Netherlands [Soortenregister] are mentioned in literature:
– | – |
Prey species outside the Netherlands:
– | – |
5. PARASITIC RELATIONS
The following species and groups occurring in the Netherlands [Soortenregister] are mentioned in literature:
Hymenoptera (Wasps) | Chrysididae (Cuckoo wasps) Chrysis (Tandgoudwespen) – Chrysis ignita [Martynova & Fateryga 2015] – Chrysis schencki [Schneider 1991] Ichnuemonidae (Ichneumon wasps) Hoplocryptus – Hoplocryptus confector [Schwarz 2007] |
Diptera (Flies) | Sarcophagidae Amobia – Amobia signata [Povolny 1997] |
Parasitic species outside the Netherlands:
– | – |
6. IDENTIFICATION
Length male: 7,5 – 10,5 mm
Length female: 10 – 13 mm
Genus
The genus Ancistrocerus can be identified using the following characters:
1. Head: last antennal segment male hooked [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]
2. Thorax: submarginal cell 2 forewing not petiolate [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]
3. Thorax: tegula pointed [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]
4. Middle leg: shin (tibia) with one thorn [Gereys 2016]
5. Abdomen: terga 1 and 2 somewhat equally wide [Schmidt-Egger 2004]
Tergum 1 wide and short, length clearly less than twice the width posterior. Dorsally viewed posterior always wider than 2/3 the maximum width tergum 2 [Gereys 2016].
5. Abdomen: tergum 1 with transverse carina [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]

1. Legs: yellow with black [3]
2. Propodeum: black [3]
3. Sternum 2: edge makes angle of ±90 degrees seen from the side, and flatly impressed behind it [3]
4. Tergum 1: normally with distinct marking [3]
5. Antenna: scape underside yellow over entire length [3]





1. Antenna: with 13 segments [Schmid-Egger 2004]
2. Antenna: last segment hooked [Schmid-Egger 2004]
2. Abdomen: with 7 segments [Schmid-Egger 2004]
HEAD
1. Antenna: underside completely orangebrown [Schmidt-Egger 2004]
2. Eye: inner edge yellow spotted [Schmidt-Egger 2004
THORAX
1. Scutellum: usually spotted yellow [Schmidt-Egger 2004]
ABDOMEN
1. Sternum 2: base bending in acute angle, in front straight or slightly concave [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]

2. Tergum 1: yellow marking typically shaped [Schmidt-Egger 2004]
Literature
Breugel 2014 Breugel, P. van., 2014. Gasten van bijenhotels. – EIS Kenniscentrum Insecten en andere ongewervelden & Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden.Budriene et al. 2004 Budriene, A., Budrys, E. D. U. A. R. D. A. S., & Nevronyte, Z. (2004). Solitary Hymenoptera Aculeata inhabiting trap-nests in Lithuania: nesting cavity choice and niche overlap. Latvijas Entomologs, 41, 19-31.
Dorow 1990 Dorow, W., 1990. 3.7 Hymenoptera: Aculeata (Stechimmen). Schönbuche. Zoologische Unter suchungen, 1992, 127-264.
Gereys 2016 Gereys, B., 2016. Vespidae solitaires de France métropolitaine: Hymenoptera: Eumeninae, Masarinae. Fédération française des sociétés de sciences naturelles.
Ivanov & Fateryga 2004 Ivanov, S.P., & Frateryga, A.V., 2004. Биология гнездования Ancistrocerus nigricornis (Curtis, 1826)(Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) в Крыму. Известия Харьковского энтомологического общества, (11, Вып. 1-2), 154-163.
Martynova & Fateryga 2015 Martynova, K. V., & Fateryga, A. V., 2015. Chrysidid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae)—Parasites of eumenine wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae: Eumeninae) in Crimea. Entomological Review, 95, 472-485.
Peeters et al. 2004 Peeters, T.M.J., C. van Achterberg, W.R.B. Heitmans, W.F. Klein, V. Lefeber, A.J. van Loon, A.A. Mabelis, H. Nieuwen-huijsen, M. Reemer, J. de Rond, J. Smit, H.H.W. Velthuis, 2004. De wespen en mieren van Nederland (Hymenoptera: Aculeata). – Nederlandse Fauna 6. Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis, Leiden, knnv Uitgeverij, Utrecht & European Invertebrate Survey – Nederland, Leiden.
Povolny 1997 Povolny, D., 1997. The flesh-flies of Central Europe (Insecta, Diptera, Sarcophagidae). Spixiana Suppl., 24, 1-260.
Schmid-Egger 2004 Schmid-Egger, C., 2004. Bestimmungsschlüssel für die deutschen Arten der solitären Faltenwespen (Hymenoptera: Eumeninae). S. 54-102. ohne Gesamttitel]. Hamburg: Deutscher Jugendbund für Naturbeobachtung (DJN).
Schneider 1991 Schneider, N., 1991. Contribution à la connaissance des Arthropodes rubicoles du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Natur. Luxembourg, 92, 85-119.
Schwarz 2007 Schwarz, M., 2007. Revision der westpaläarktischen Arten der Gattung Hoplocryptus Thomson (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). na.
Soortenregister Nederlands Soortenregister
Waarneming.nl Waarneming.nl
Citation
Krischan, O.R., 2025. Ancistrocerus nigricornis. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on [date month year].