Species guide - species detail
Sapyga Morpho A (a wasp that parasitizes leaf cutter and mason bees)
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Taxonomy
Sapygidae is a small family of wasps that parasitizes Megachilidae bees. The Sapygid wasps are relatively rare, and not well studied (Kurzenko (1996). There are 18 species recorded in North America, north of Mexico (Kurzenko, 1996).
Description
These are yellow and black wasps of small-medium size, similar superficially to some of the Eumenid wasps we find in Bee Atlas blocks. However, Sapyga wasps have smoother exoskeletons and flatter abdomens then Eumenids.
Nest Structure
In Bee Atlas blocks these wasps parasitize Osmia tersula and Osmia pumila.
Hole Sizes
No information at this time.
Voltinism
No information at this time.
Activity Period
No information at this time.
References
Kurzenko, N.V. (1996). A new Nearctic genus of Sapygidae with a key to the Nearctic and Palearctic genera (Hymenoptera, Sapygidae). In Norden, B. B. and Menke, A. S. (Eds.) Contributions on Hymenoptera and associated insects : dedicated to Karl V. Krombein (Vol: 17) Pages:89-94
Minnesota Record Map
These data are from the Minnesota Bee Atlas project.
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