Crabro peltarius♂︎

Last update: 6 December 2024


Common

Species Crabro peltarius
Genus CRABRO
Family CRABRONIDAE



Ecological role Predator + pollinator

Voltinism Univoltine
Activity
janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Observations
2024-VII-042021-VI-062020-VI-022020-V-312020-V-302020-V-272020-V-202019-V-242016-V-28
Months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Years
20162019202020212024

Nesting strategy Endogeic
Nestarchitecture Broodcells





Last changes:
Added photos male identifiers


Official name:

Synonyms:

Crabro peltarius [Soortenregister]

Sphex peltarius (Schreber 1784)


see more on: www.gbif.org

Etymology:

peltarius

Crabro peltarius ♂︎

1. DISTRIBUTION

The species is very common throughout the whole of the Netherlands [Peeters et al. 2004].

2. BEHAVIOUR

2.1. ACTIVITY

The species is active from May until October [Peeters et al. 2004].

Every year the males can be found around the bee hotel in my garden.

The Dutch name of this species ‘Sift wasp’ refers to the enlarged front legs of the males. These contain transparent grooves that pass light which possibly plays a role during mating. The male will cover the females eyes with them [Peeters et al. 2004].

Males can be found in bee hotels where they will spend the night, females do not visit bee hotels and nest in the ground [Breugel 2014]. with a preference for sandy soil [Peeters et al. 2004].

Crabro peltarius ♂︎

3. PREY RELATIONS

C. peltarius catches flies from the following families [Peeters et al. 2004] :

Flies
(DIPTERA)
– Calliphoridae
– Dolichopodidae
– Muscidae
– Stratiomyidae
– Therevidae

4. IDENTIFICATION

There are three Crabro species in the Netherlands. The enlarged front legs of the males are a key to distinguish them.

The males measure 9 – 13 mm and the females 10 – 13 mm.

Genus

1. Front wing with one submarginal cel [Dollfuss 1991],4]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, one submarginal cel

2. Inner edge eyes converging down [Dollfuss 1991]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, inneredge eyes downwards converging

3. Ocelli form an obtuse triangle [Dollfuss 1991]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, ocelli shaped in obtuse triangle

4. Abdomen marked with yellow in most species [Dollfuss 1991],4]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, abdomen with yellow on the segments


  1. Distance between rear ocelli is almost equal to the distance to eyes
  2. Mesonotum (top thorax) more or less glossy between punctuation
  3. Shins yellow with dark spots
  4. Projecting hairs behind ocelli not longer than diameter rear ocelli
  5. Clypeus straight without teeth
  6. Tergite V almost always with yellow markings
  7. Vertex (upper side head) densely punctuated
  8. Antenna segment III clearly longer than segment IV
  9. Tergite I with yellow spots


Crabro peltarius ♂︎
Crabro peltarius ♂︎
Crabro peltarius ♂︎

1. Mesonotum punctated, without longitudinal grooves [Dollfuss 1991]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, mesonotum punctated

2. Antennal segments flat [3] and strongly widened, middle segments almost 2x wider than long [Dollfuss 1991],4]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, antenna segments widened, middle segments 2x wider than long
Crabro peltarius ♂︎, antenna segments widened, middle segments 2x wider than long

3. Underside antennal segments with long hairs [Dollfuss 1991]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, underside antenna segments III – VI with long hairs

3. Schield front leg is recognizable by the stripes (upper half) and dots (lower half) [Dollfuss 1991],[4] and is shaped asymmetrically [Dollfuss 1991].

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, shield tibia frontleg

4. Tarsal segments front leg strongly enlarged [Dollfuss 1991]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, strongly deformed frontleg tarsus

5. First abdominal tergite and antennal shaft usually with yellow [4]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, antenna shaft usually with yellow
Crabro peltarius ♂︎, first abdominal tergite usually with with yellow

6. Frons strongly punctated with unclear longitudinal grooves [Dollfuss 1991]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, frons strongly punctated with unclear longitudinal grooves
Crabro peltarius ♂︎, frons strongly punctated with unclear furrows

7. Mesopleuron (side thorax) sparse and widely punctated [Dollfuss 1991]

Crabro peltarius ♂︎, mesopleuron with scattered punctation
Crabro peltarius ♂︎, mesopleuron with scattered punctation

8. Shin front leg with long thorn [Dollfuss 1991]
9. Hairs on first antennal segment not longer than diameter ocelli [Dollfuss 1991]
10. Front coxae with thorn [Dollfuss 1991]


Literature

Breugel 2014 Breugel, P. van., 2014. Gasten van bijenhotels. – EIS Kenniscentrum Insecten en andere ongewervelden & Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden.

Dollfuss 1991 Dollfuss, H., 1991. Bestimmungsschlüssel der Grabwespen Nord-und Zentraleuropas. Stapfia, 24, 1-247.

Klein 1999 Klein, W., 1999 De graafwespen van de Benelux: supplement. Jeugdbondsuitgeverij, 1-37. + Klein, W., 1996. De graafwespen van de Benelux. Jeugdbondsuitgeverij, 1-130.

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.

Citation

Krischan, O.R., 2025. Crabro peltarius. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on [date month year].



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