Ancistrocerus gazella, a new wasp to my summer bee solitary wasp nesting unit
This mason wasp is also known as the European Tube Wasp. According to Wikipedia, the female collects as many as 20 caterpillars in each nest. Looking at the size of the cells, how on earth were they were crammed into such a small space! The wasp egg is deposited inside the cell and sealed with mud. The larva emerges and consumes the paralysed prey items.
A female Ancistrocerus gazella © J Early
These larvae came to my attention when I was checking the nesting units inside a solitary bee observation nest box last year. The cellophane-like membrane made by the larvae inside each cell seals the cell allowing the larvae to develop. Each cell was separated by mud walls, similar to Red Mason mud walls, although much thinner. There were 3 enclosed cells and one damaged mud wall containing a larva that for whatever reason was not inside the cellophane-like membrane. Not knowing what was inside the cells, and there being no plug at the entrance to the cavity, I plugged the exit and stored them ready for the following spring to see if I could find out what the newcomers were.
Nesting biology
Ancistrocerus gazella wasp leaving its Nurturing Nature home of many months
I do like the emoji ‘OK’ face symbol on its thorax!
BWARS states that this about Ancistrocerus gazella, “A tube-dweller, similar to A parietum. The egg hatches after a few days and the larva eats the prey in one to two weeks. When fully fed the larva may remain motionless for a day or two before it voids waste products from the gut and spins a cocoon. When winter diapause is absent the pre-pupal stage lasts for about one week, followed by pupation. The adult appears about two weeks after the start of pupation. With winter diapause, the pre-pupal stage is extended for the winter season. After emergence, the adult moistens the clay partition to facilitate an exit.” Except in my case, they could not exit! Hence the first to emerge started to chew the unfortunate wasp directly behind it.
A new species of wasp that I can add to my list of insects that use my summer bee solitary wasp nesting units
BWARS for more information about solitary wasps
With thanks to Jeremy Early who informed me it was an Ancistrocerus gazella. See more photographs by Jeremy Early
Steven Falk Flickr page of Ancistrocerus gazella
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