Sceliphron spirifex

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.

Sceliphron spirifex
S. spirifex in Tanzania
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Genus: Sceliphron
Species:
S. spirifex
Binomial name
Sceliphron spirifex
Synonyms [1]
  • Sphex spirifex Linnaeus, 1758
  • Pelopaeus spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Sphex aegyptius Linnaeus, 1758
  • Sphex flavipes Christ, 1791
  • Sceliphron aegyptiacum Klug, 1801
A Mediterranean house gecko in ambush on a nest of a Sceliphron spirifex.
A Sceliphron spirifex offspring emerges from the nest.

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
  1. Anonymous (January 19, 2006). "Sceliphron" (PDF).


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