Austrogorytes bellicosus
Workbook
This is a species we see nesting here each summer. In order to confirm the species identity, I collected a female just as she was returning to her nest with prey (15th Jan, 2023). All images below are that individual (the cover image shows a different individual - same species - nesting nearby in November 2022).
Crabronidae: Bembicinae: Bembicini: Gorytina: Austrogorytes bellicosus
The following notes and associated images step through the logic and evidence for my identification to genus Austrogorytes. The pattern of yellow bands and the overall hairiness of the body confirms her specific identity as Austrogorytes bellicosus. I’ve included additional, annotated images simply as a reference guide to morphological structures in this group.
[label in collection = 2301C]
Descriptions of Austrogorytes bellicosus
Update (15/2/23): based upon this work, I have written a blog post ‘Sand wasp puzzles: part 1’. It includes tips and resources for the identification of crabronids, more broadly.
Update (25/2/23): Austrogorytes cheat sheet now complete
References
Bohart, R.M. 1984. A revision of the genus Austrogorytes Bohart (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Australian Journal of Zoology, 32: 391-412
Bohart, R.M. & Menke, A.S. 1976. Sphecid Wasps of the World: A generic revision. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Handlirsch, A. 1895. Nachträge und Schlusswort zur Monographie des mit Nysson und Bembex verwandten Grabwespen. Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 104: 801-1079
Smith, F. 1862. Descriptions of new species of Australian Hymenoptera, and of a species of Formica from New Zealand. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 3 1: 53-62
This is a workbook page … a part of our website where we record the observations and references used in making species identifications. The notes will not necessarily be complete. They are a record for our own use, but we are happy to share this information with others.