Ancistrocerus sp. B

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Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region

CJAI 05, February 19, 2008
doi: 10.3752/cjai.2008.05

Matthias Buck, Stephen A. Marshall, and David K.B. Cheung

Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

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14. Ancistrocerus sp. B

Figs B3.30, 44; C14.1–3.

Taxonomy. See notes on the taxonomy of A. catskill and related species.



Species recognition. Males of this species cannot be separated with confidence from A. albophaleratus. The female of this species is easily distinguished from other species in the A. catskill complex by the dark legs and reduced number of apical fasciae of the metasoma (though a similar melanic colour form of Ancistrocerus cf. sp. A rarely occurs in northern Ontario, see above).

Variation (females only). Fore wing length 7.5–9.0 mm. Pale markings of body usually ivory, rarely yellow. Clypeus black, often with a pair of (usually small) dorsal and sometimes also a pair of pale ventral spots, rarely with ventral spots only, the spots never confluent. Pale spot between inner orbit and antennal socket almost always absent (present in 1 ♀, NT, Fort McPherson, CNCI). Scape with an amber, or less commonly clear ivory of yellow stripe beneath, often more brown in basal half. Pronotal band narrow, in western specimens rarely lateral portions absent. Spot on upper mesopleuron usually absent, if present very small and often evanescent except in some western specimens. Tegula black or black and brown, with or without pale markings. Pale scutellar spots almost always absent (moderately developed in 1 ♀, AB, Drumheller, CNCI). Parategula, metanotum and propodeum black. Mid and hind tibiae black, the black areas sometimes suffused with amber in specimens from NT, YT; pale markings absent or small, restricted to anterior surface of tibia and not extending to dorsal midline. Metasomal terga 1–3 fasciate; the fascia of tergum 3 often interrupted medially, rarely completely absent (1 ♀, ON, Manitoulin I., Carter Bay, DEBU; 1 ♀, ON, Trenton, CNCI; 1 ♀, AB, McMurray, CNCI; 1 ♀, NT, Fort Wrigley, CNCI); some specimens from SK, AB, BC with fasciate tergum 4 but fascia usually abbreviated laterally. Sternum 1 with or without fascia, if present often indistinct; fascia of sternum 2 usually complete, rarely reduced to a pair of lateral spots; sternum 3 with apicolateral spots; sternum 4 rarely with apicolateral spots.

Distribution. Canada: ON to BC, NT, YT. Northern U.S.: AK.

Biology. Unknown.

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