American Sand Wasp (suggested common name), Bembix americana Fabricius, 1793 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae)
This article describes the identification, biology, and importance of the American sand wasps (Bembix americana Fabricius), which are a subspecies-complex of large, robust wasps in the subfamily Bembicinae. They nest gregariously in bare soil and provision their nests with flies (order Diptera). Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries
2024-03-01
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| Series: | EDIS |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/130372 |
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| author | Marirose P. Kuhlman Adam G. Dale |
| author_facet | Marirose P. Kuhlman Adam G. Dale |
| author_sort | Marirose P. Kuhlman |
| collection | DOAJ |
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This article describes the identification, biology, and importance of the American sand wasps (Bembix americana Fabricius), which are a subspecies-complex of large, robust wasps in the subfamily Bembicinae. They nest gregariously in bare soil and provision their nests with flies (order Diptera). The females are progressive provisioners, meaning they continue to provide their developing larvae with prey until the larvae pupate. Males participate in a distinctive mating behavior called a “sun dance” in which groups of males fly low over nesting areas waiting for females to emerge so they can be the first to mate with them. Adults feed on flower nectar and can often be found visiting a variety of wildflowers. This species has a broad ecological range and can be found nesting in a variety of soil types and habitats.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-455d315b1ef746588600e2244017f0f2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2576-0009 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EDIS |
| spelling | doaj-art-455d315b1ef746588600e2244017f0f22025-02-08T05:40:10ZengThe University of Florida George A. Smathers LibrariesEDIS2576-00092024-03-0120242American Sand Wasp (suggested common name), Bembix americana Fabricius, 1793 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae)Marirose P. Kuhlman0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2297-9400Adam G. Dale1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4125-0431University of FloridaUniversity of Florida This article describes the identification, biology, and importance of the American sand wasps (Bembix americana Fabricius), which are a subspecies-complex of large, robust wasps in the subfamily Bembicinae. They nest gregariously in bare soil and provision their nests with flies (order Diptera). The females are progressive provisioners, meaning they continue to provide their developing larvae with prey until the larvae pupate. Males participate in a distinctive mating behavior called a “sun dance” in which groups of males fly low over nesting areas waiting for females to emerge so they can be the first to mate with them. Adults feed on flower nectar and can often be found visiting a variety of wildflowers. This species has a broad ecological range and can be found nesting in a variety of soil types and habitats. https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/130372PollinatorsWaspsBeneficial insects |
| spellingShingle | Marirose P. Kuhlman Adam G. Dale American Sand Wasp (suggested common name), Bembix americana Fabricius, 1793 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae) EDIS Pollinators Wasps Beneficial insects |
| title | American Sand Wasp (suggested common name), Bembix americana Fabricius, 1793 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae) |
| title_full | American Sand Wasp (suggested common name), Bembix americana Fabricius, 1793 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae) |
| title_fullStr | American Sand Wasp (suggested common name), Bembix americana Fabricius, 1793 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | American Sand Wasp (suggested common name), Bembix americana Fabricius, 1793 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae) |
| title_short | American Sand Wasp (suggested common name), Bembix americana Fabricius, 1793 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae) |
| title_sort | american sand wasp suggested common name bembix americana fabricius 1793 insecta hymenoptera crabronidae bembicinae |
| topic | Pollinators Wasps Beneficial insects |
| url | https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/130372 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marirosepkuhlman americansandwaspsuggestedcommonnamebembixamericanafabricius1793insectahymenopteracrabronidaebembicinae AT adamgdale americansandwaspsuggestedcommonnamebembixamericanafabricius1793insectahymenopteracrabronidaebembicinae |