Sceliphron spirifex | |
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S. spirifex in Tanzania | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Sphecidae |
Genus: | Sceliphron |
Species: | S. spirifex
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Binomial name | |
Sceliphron spirifex | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Mediterranean_house_gecko_ambush.jpg/220px-Mediterranean_house_gecko_ambush.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/SceliphronSpirifexOffspring.jpg/220px-SceliphronSpirifexOffspring.jpg)
Sceliphron spirifex is a species of sphecid wasp. It has a medium-sized body (17–27 millimetres or 0.7–1.1 inches), which is dull black with a long, yellow petiole (waist). The legs are black with yellow bands, the antennae are black and the wings are clear.
Females build large multi-celled mud nests attached to cliffs, rocks, tree trunks, bridges and buildings. The cells are mass-provisioned with several spiders and sealed with mud.
S. spirifex lives in diverse habitats across Africa and Southern Europe, but is strongly associated with buildings and other man-made structures.
References
[edit]- ^ Anonymous (January 19, 2006). "Sceliphron" (PDF).
External links
[edit]Media related to Sceliphron spirifex at Wikimedia Commons