Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XII: Behavioral and Life History Notes on Some Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Sphecoidea) KARL V. KROMBEIN SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 387 SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoo/ogy Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report the research and collections of its various museums and bureaux or of professional colleagues in the world of science and scholarship. The publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world. Papers or monographs submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Press, subject to its own review for format and style, only through departments of the various Smithsonian museums or bureaux, where the manuscripts are given substantive review. Press requirements for manuscript and art preparation are outlined on the inside back cover. S. Dillon Ripley Secretary Smithsonian Institution SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 387 Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XII :x Behavioral and Life History Notes on Some Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Sphecoidea) Karl V. Krombein SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS City of Washington 1984 ABSTRACT Krombein, Karl V. Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XII: Behav- ioral and Life History Notes on Some Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Sphecoidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 387, 30 pages, 5 figures, 1984.—The wasps discussed here are solitary, ground-nesting species that construct uni- cellular nests. Notes are presented insofar as possible on nest construction and architecture, selection and storage of prey, life history, male activity, and associated commensals, predators, and parasites. Ammophila laevigata Smith stores up to three paralyzed caterpillars per cell for its larva. The prey belong to the Satyridae and Noctuidae. Ammophila atripes Smith stores a single larger noctuid caterpillar, perhaps that of a cutworm. Sometimes the female acts as a brigand, digging up the caterpillar stored by another female, destroying the egg of that wasp, then reburying the caterpillar in the original nest and laying her own egg upon it. Sphex obscums (Fabricius) preys only upon nymphal or adult tettigoniid grasshoppers belonging to the genus Conocephalus, practices mass provisioning, and provides 4-6 prey per nest. Sphex sericeus fabrieii Dahlbom also practices mass provisioning; it was observed to have provided four prey in one completed nest. It was unique in that one female made an empty accessory burrow adjacent to the true nest as has been reported for another subspecies of S. sericeus (Fabricius). Most Ceylonese prey records are of Gryllacrididae as in several other subspecies of S. sericeus, but a few Ceylonese females provided Gryllidae or Tettigoniidae. Sphex subtruncatus krombeini Vecht is a new taxon described by him in the appendix. It differs biologically from the other observed Ceylonese Sphex in that it practices progressive provisioning, that is, the egg is placed on the first prey specimen and additional prey are provided daily after the egg hatches. This wasp preys predominantly upon a wide variety of tettigoniid grasshop- pers. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SERIES COVER DESIGN: The coral Montastrea cavernosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Krombein, Karl V. Biosystematic studies of Ceylonese wasps, XII. (Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; no. 387) Bibliography: p. 1. Sphecidae. 2. Insects—Sri Lanka. I. Title. II. Series. QL1.S54 no. 387 591s [595.79] 83-600269 [QL568.S7] Contents Page Introduction 1 Acknowledgments 2 Ammophila laevigata Smith 3 Collection Locations and Dates 3 Field Observations 4 Discussion 6 Ammophila atripes Smith 6 Collection Locations and Dates 7 Field Observations 7 Discussion 9 Sphex obscurus (Fabricius) 9 Collection Locations and Dates 9 Field Observations 10 Nest Construction 10 Temporary Nest Closure 10 Final Nest Closure 11 Nest Dimensions 12 Prey Identification 12 Immature Stages 12 Male Activity 12 Parasites 12 Discussion 12 Sphex sericeus fabricii Dahlbom 13 Collection Locations and Dates 13 Field Observations 13 Nest Dimensions 15 Prey Identification 15 Parasites 15 Discussion 15 Sphex subtruncatus krombeini Vecht, new subspecies 16 Collection Locations and Dates 17 Previous Research 17 Field Observations 18 Nesting Sites 18 Nest Construction 19 Abortive Burrows 20 Nest Dimensions 21 First Temporary Closure 22 Orientation Flights 22 Subsequent Temporary Closures 23 iii IV SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY Final Nest Closure 23 Prey Transport and Provisioning 23 Prey Identification 25 Life Cycle 26 Male Activity 26 Commensals, Predators, and Parasites 27 Appendix: A New Subspecies of Sphex subtruncatus Dahlbom, by J. van der Vecht 28 Literature Cited 30 Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XII: Behavioral and Life History Notes on Some Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Sphecoidea) Karl V. Krombein Introduction marked behavioral differences at the specific level, as my technicians and I noted in the five The Sphecidae, or thread-waisted wasps as species that we observed. they are commonly called, form a conspicuous Among the Sceliphroninae, Sceliphron and Chal- element of the Ceylonese wasp fauna. The species ybion prey upon spiders, but members of the for- are of medium to large size (~ 12-33 mm long) mer genus construct mud nests consisting of con- and are readily recognized by the relatively slen- tiguous cells or tubes, each cell containing one der body with an abdominal petiole consisting of egg and a store of paralyzed spiders. Most species one or two segments. of Chalybion nest in pre-existing cavities or bur- The three subfamilies comprising the Spheci- rows, construct a linear series of cells, each capped dae all occur in Sri Lanka but only 7 of the 19 by a mud plug and provisioned with one egg each genera recognized by Bohart and Menke (1976) and a store of paralyzed spiders; some species are have been collected. Eight species of Sceliphron- known to nest in abandoned mud nests of other inae have been recorded, two of Chlorion Latreille wasps. Some Chlorion, notably C. lobatum (Fabri- and three each of Chalybion Dahlbom and Sceli- cius), which occurs in Sri Lanka, paralyze a large phron Klug. Thirteen species of Sphecinae occur subterranean cricket, lay an egg upon it, and in Sri Lanka, nine of Sphex Linnaeus, and two sometimes seal it in its own burrow. The cricket each of Isodontia Patton and Prionyx Vander Lin- recovers from the paralysis and continues a nor- den. There are three species of Ammophilinae, all mal existence until it is devoured by the wasp belonging to Ammophila Kirby. larva. Other extra-limital species of Chlorion are The sphecid genera occurring in Sri Lanka are known to mass provision a single cell with a quite diverse in their nesting habits, prey, and number of crickets, laying an egg on the first prey other features of their biology. There are also brought in. These crickets do not recover from the paralysis. Karl V. Krombein, Senior Scientist, Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Wash- All Sphecinae appear to prey upon Orthoptera. ington, D.C. 20560. Sphex and Prionyx are ground-nesters. Species of 1 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY the former genus prefer Tettigoniidae or occasion- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.—My field work in Sri ally Gryllidae or Gryllacrididae, whereas all spe- Lanka was funded by Smithsonian Research cies of the latter genus prey upon Locustidae. Foundation Grant SFG-0-6955, and travel was Most species of Sphex make multicellular nests, provided in part by grants from the Secretary's although some, including the three species we Fluid Research Funds. observed in Sri Lanka, make unicellular nests. Within Sri Lanka I am indebted to Co-Princi- Prionyx usually make unicellular nests, although pal Investigator W.T.T.P. Gunawardane, now one species is known to construct a multicellular Director, Department of National Museums, for nest. The species of Isodontia nest in pre-existing planning itineraries and arranging accommoda- cavities and provision their cells with Gryllidae tions for our field parties. I am particularly grate- or Tettigoniidae. Most Sphecinae are mass pro- ful to P.B. Karunaratne, former curator of insects visioners but a few Sphex,