Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
7-26-2024
Citation
Insecta Mundi (July 26, 2024) 1063
ZooBank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6A128918-F0FC-4B58-BDDF-992DEDCD2755
Received April 24, 2024; accepted June 1, 2024
Review editor Davide Dal Pos
Abstract
Three Nearctic species of Episyron Schiødte (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilinae: Pompilini) were examined morphologically, geographically, and ecologically with intent to infer an aposematic correlation with habitat type, protarsal digging rake morphology, and host spider association. Episyron quinquenotatus quinquenotatus (Say) and E. conterminus cressoni (Dewitz), two subspecies with extensive aposematic markings and more and longer protarsal comb spines, were associated with bare or sparsely vegetated sandy soils near water courses. Episyron biguttatus biguttatus (Fabricius), with few aposematic markings and less and shorter protarsal comb spines, was associated with more densely vegetated terrain and gravelly and loamy soils. Three subspecies of Anoplius apiculatus (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilinae: Pompilini) are discussed as an aposematic-habitat comparison.
Comments
Open access