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Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region
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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26. Euodynerus castigatus (de Saussure, 1853)
Species recognition. This species is distinguished from similar species by the presence of 1–3 small, irregular teeth on the lateral ridge of the propodeum below the propodeal angle (teeth absent in the closely related E. auranus and E. sp. G), a strongly punctate tergum 1 (very sparsely punctate in other species except in few specimens of E. auranus), black metanotum (marked with yellow and/or ferruginous in other species except a few females and many males of E. auranus), posterior half of male sternum 7 with moderately dense erect hair (hairing either semi-erect, i.e., more or less inclined posteriorly, or erect and very dense, brush-like), and other characters mentioned in the key. Euodynerus castigatus is the only yellow-marked species in the genus with the lower surface of male flagellomeres I–VII distinctly spiculate.
Variation. Fore wing length 8–9 mm (♂♂), 9–11 mm (♀♀). Apical reflex and punctation of apical fascia of tergum 2 somewhat variable, on average stronger in male than in female. Female clypeus usually with an arched basal yellow spot, sometimes medially divided, rarely absent; clypeal apex rarely with a ferruginous spot sometimes connected to the yellow basal spot. Interantennal spot in female usually more or less divided medially, rarely missing, in male extending to clypeus or separated from it. Yellow stripe along lower inner orbit exceptionally absent in female, sometimes interrupted hallway between ocular sinus and clypeus. Yellow markings of head sometimes slightly suffused with reddish, especially postocular spot, which is usually completely ferruginous. Yellow pronotal band usually with narrow ferruginous posterior border, sometimes practically absent in male, rarely broad and extending to middle of pronotum posteriorly. Spot on upper mesopleuron usually small to moderately developed, rarely absent in female (usually absent in male), almost always yellow, rarely ferruginous. Scutellum with a pair of yellow spots, almost always with at least very narrow ferruginous inner border, the spots rarely almost meeting at middle. Yellow propodeal spots large, sometimes narrowly bordered with ferruginous, rarely almost completely ferruginous. Metasomal terga 1(–2)–3(4) with yellow apical fasciae in female, in male terga 1(–3)–4(5) fasciate. Tergum 1 with at least a narrow ferruginous area bordering lateral forward extension of yellow apical fascia. Sternum 2 and very rarely 3 with posterolateral yellow spots in female; sternum 2 of male with complete fascia or posterolateral spots, sterna 3–5 sometimes also with spots.
Distribution. Canada: newly recorded for ON and BC. Transcontinental in the U.S. (Krombein 1979). Mexico: Morelos, Jalisco (Rodríguez-Palafox 1996). Subspecies rubrivestis (Bohart, 1948) occurs in GA and FL (Fig. 26.5), ssp. sanneovestis (Bohart, 1948) in California. The distribution of E. castigatus in Ontario is mostly allopatric with regard to the closely related E. auranus, which occurs on dunes along Lake Huron. Euodynerus castigatus prefers inland dunes or other sandy areas, but both species occur together on Lake Huron dunes at Inverhuron Provincial Park (Bruce Co.).
Biology. Unrecorded. Euodynerus castigatus is associated with sandy areas in Ontario. On three occasions the senior author observed females on sandy soil, where they apparently were gathering sand. None of the females showed digging behaviour so we assume that sand was gathered for nest construction (most likely in a cavity). Even though the closely related E. auranus nests in the ground, this is apparently is not the case for E. castigatus.
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