Peak season: males aplenty
The first males appear in late November, and by March they are common sight around the nesting area.
6 March, 2023
Cerceris antipodes
Late season: perched male
Males are easily distinguised from females. They have a narrower face and smaller body, overall. The higher number of segments in the antennae (13) and gaster (7) are also definitive.
2 April, 2023
Cerceris antipodes
Late season: vigilant, patient male
A brief rest between low, patrolling flights around the nesting area.
2 April, 2023
Cerceris antipodes
Late season: males are not overtly territorial
The brush of golden hairs on the clypeus (green arrows) is another distinctive feature of males. Indeed, it is an identifying feature of most male Philanthinae – including Cerceris – and is seen in very few other wasps. Some species use the brush in scent marking their territories, but Cerceris antipodes does not appear to mark or defend a territory. They simply maintain a vigil in the nesting area, on the lookout for emerging young females.
2 April, 2023
Cerceris antipodes
Late season: male seeking to mate
For at least 15 minutes he hung about, waiting for a chance to mate with the young female. She would occasionally poke her head out (see previous photo) but mostly she remained tucked away inside, with just her antennae showing (green arrow).
21 April, 2023
Cerceris antipodes
1. Burrow entrance choked with traffic
This is what captured my attention … a pair of bodies jammed into the entrance of the burrow, wriggling and kicking but not breaking free.
23 March, 2023
Cerceris antipodes
2. A third wasp arrives
Another female lands and shows interest.
3. Still stuck, the entrance blocked
The second female was not content to watch from the sidelines.
4. She climbs on top
The second female climbs atop the ‘stuck’ pair, exploring the burrow edge with her antennae.
5. Not quite in copula
The male is gripping the first female, but they are not coupled … his terminal abdominal segment is well clear of hers.
6. The first female disappears
Finally, after several minutes at the burrow entrance, the first female disappears. She may have simply been stuck, jammed against the wall by the male. More likely, he was restraining her by gripping her thorax with his legs or mandibles.
7. The male hauls himself back up
He seems reluctant to continue into the now-open burrow, backing out as the second female looks on.
8. Finally, she scurries inside
As the male moves aside, the second female quickly heads into the burrow. Successfully. A moment after this photo, she had disappeared into the nest.
9. The male refuses to leave
There is no longer any sign of the two females, now deep inside the nest. Yet the male remains. He straddles the opening, preening and perhaps recuperating.
10. He ventures another look inside
This is most unusual! Never before have I seen a male behave this way, poking his head into the unguarded burrow. And a moment later he entered the nest, completely disappearing from view! Perhaps the first time he was dragged in by the female, but this time it was clearly his own initiative.
11. A few seconds later ...
Within moments of entering the nest, he is back at the entrance.
12. ... he climbs back out, alone
He sits at the entrance for a few seconds before taking off. I watched on for another 15 minutes, but the action was all over. No sign of the females, and the male resumed his patrolling of the general area … that is, back to normal behaviour.