Beetle-killing wasp
Tiphia femorata, about 10 mm
Tiphia femorata, also called Common Roll wasp, Hymenoptera of the family of a roll wasps ( Tiphiidae ). This type of the genus Tiphia is common in Europe.
Features
The body length of Tiphia femorata is variable, males reach a length of 5 to 12 mm, females are 6 to 15 millimeters long. The body is dark colored. The tibiae and femora of middle and posterior pairs of legs are usually reddish brown. The third tergite has no cross bar at the back. The sides of the Propodeums are striated in the male.
Similar, but less common species are unicolor in Central Europe Tiphia minuta and Tiphia (synonym: Tiphia ruficornis ) and Tiphia villosa (synonym: Tiphia morio, in Germany nearly extinct).
Occurrence
The species is widespread in North Africa and Europe. They settled various open, temperature- favored and dry habitats. The animals come in a generation of mid-June, before the end of August.
Way of life
Tiphia femorata parasitizes the larvae of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae ), especially the well Junebug mentioned Amphimallon solstitiale. The females feel this through their sense of smell in the ground to, dig in front of them and create them from an egg after being incapacitated by a stitch.
Female imagos fly on flowers for nectar and pollen search and stay on it. Due to their short mouthparts they prefer Umbelliferae to easily reach the nectar. The further outward, like pliers working mandibles, however, be used for digging on the host animals.
Pictures
Dead females with rolled sensors