Open AccessNOTES ON THE NESTS AND PREY OF AUSTRALIAN WASPS OF THE GENUS CERCERIS (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)
Author(s) -
Evans Howard E.,
Matthews Robert W.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
australian journal of entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1440-6055
pISSN - 1326-6756
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1970.tb00781.x
Subject(s) - sphecidae , biology , hymenoptera , predation , antipodes , zoology , genus , predator , ecology , geography , geodesy
Some aspects of the nesting behaviour of four species of Cerceris occurring in eastern Australia are described. The species are C. australis Smith, C. opposita Smith, C. antipodes Smith, and C. minuscula Turner. The first is a predator on scarab beetles, while the second two prey on Chrysomelidae. There is evidence that at least two species overwinter as adults in burrows dug in autumn, and some inconclusive evidence of subsociality in C. antipodes.