Ancistrocerus nigricornis♀︎♂︎

Last update: 2 January 2025


Uncommon

Species Ancistrocerus nigricornis
Genus ANCISTROCERUS (Potter wasps)
Family VESPIDAE



Ecological role Predator + pollinator

Voltinism Bivoltine
Activity
janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Observations
2021-X-272021-VII-222021-VI-102020-VIII-202020-VI-192020-V-202020-IX-062020-IX-052020-IV-212020-IV-202020-IV-192020-IV-052019-IX-152016-V-082016-V-06
Months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Years
2016201920202021

Nesting strategy Hypergeic
Nestarchitecture Broodcells
Nest diameters (mm)
123456789101112131415




Last changes:
2024/12/06: identification male and genus added


Official name:

Synonyms:

Ancistrocerus nigricornis [Soortenregister]

Odynerus nigricornis (Curtis 1826)


see more on: www.gbif.org

Etymology:

nigricornis

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎

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]
Table 3.1-1: wood types used as nest substrate

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]
GrossulariaceaeRibes [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]
Table 3.2-1: Food plants in the Netherlands
Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, with prey

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:



Table 4-1: Prey species in the Netherlands

Prey species outside the Netherlands:



Table 4-2: 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]
Table 5-1: Parasitic species in the Netherlands

Parasitic species outside the Netherlands:



Table 5-2: 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]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, last antennal segment hooked

2.  Thorax: submarginal cell 2 forewing not petiolate [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, second submarginal cell forewing not petiolate

3. Thorax: tegula pointed [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, tegula pointed

4. Middle leg: shin (tibia) with one thorn [Gereys 2016]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, middle leg tibia with one thorn

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].

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, terga 1 and 2 somewhat equally wide

5. Abdomen: tergum 1 with transverse carina [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, tergum 1 with transverse carina


1. Legs: yellow with black [3]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, legs yellow with black

2. Propodeum: black [3]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, propodeum black
Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, propodeum black

3. Sternum 2: edge makes angle of ±90 degrees seen from the side, and flatly impressed behind it [3]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, edge sternum 2 straight angled, flat afterwards
Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, edge sternum 2 straight angled, followed by flat indentation

4. Tergum 1: normally with distinct marking [3]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, tergum 1 with characteristic yellow markings
Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, tergum 1 with characteristic yellow markings

5. Antenna: scape underside yellow over entire length [3]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♀︎, antenna scape underside yellow


Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎
Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎
Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎
Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎

1. Antenna: with 13 segments [Schmid-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, antenna with thirteen segments

2. Antenna: last segment hooked [Schmid-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, last antennal segment hooked

2. Abdomen: with 7 segments [Schmid-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, abdomen with seven segments

HEAD

1. Antenna: underside completely orangebrown [Schmidt-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, underside antennal flag completely orangebrown

2. Eye: inner edge yellow spotted [Schmidt-Egger 2004

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, inner edge eyes marked yellow

THORAX

1. Scutellum: usually spotted yellow [Schmidt-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, scutellum usually spotted yellow

ABDOMEN

1. Sternum 2: base bending in acute angle, in front straight or slightly concave [Gereys 2016],[Schmidt-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, base sternum 2 bending in acute angle, in front flat or slightly concave

2. Tergum 1: yellow marking typically shaped [Schmidt-Egger 2004]

Ancistrocerus nigricornis ♂︎, yellow marking tergum 1 typically shaped


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].