Prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in southern Germany
Isodontia mexicana (Sphecidae) is a neozoic wasp in Europe. Since its first recording in France in the 1960s, it has spread throughout Europe and is now considered established. It preys on grasshoppers for its larvae but so far, there is little empirical evidence on the composition of prey species a...
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| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hymenoptera Research |
| Online Access: | https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/148947/download/pdf/ |
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| author | Sarah von Adelmannsfelden Felix Fornoff |
| author_facet | Sarah von Adelmannsfelden Felix Fornoff |
| author_sort | Sarah von Adelmannsfelden |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Isodontia mexicana (Sphecidae) is a neozoic wasp in Europe. Since its first recording in France in the 1960s, it has spread throughout Europe and is now considered established. It preys on grasshoppers for its larvae but so far, there is little empirical evidence on the composition of prey species and the wasp’s preference for nest tube diameters from Europe. For further insights into prey and nesting preferences, we placed layer nests with 4 different cavity diameters in contrasting habitats in Southwest Germany. The wasp’s prey consisted of two grasshopper species, Oecanthus pellucens and Meconema meridionale. For O. pellucens, 80% of the prey found were female, for M. meridionale 52% and the mean body length of M. meridionale was 11.92 mm (SD = 0.95) and that of O. pellucens was 12.31 mm (SD = 1.02). The preferred cavity diameter for nests was 11 mm, with preference given to deeper cavities within the offered layer nest. The flexibility in prey species may reduce the threat for individual prey species populations, but may allow further spread of the Sphecid wasp. However, the preference for relatively large diameters reduces the expected competition risk with native bees below previous expectations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85e15a7bfcef4f3ca71129748cc0cbd2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1314-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hymenoptera Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-85e15a7bfcef4f3ca71129748cc0cbd22025-08-20T02:05:13ZengPensoft PublishersJournal of Hymenoptera Research1314-26072025-06-019860361910.3897/jhr.98.148947148947Prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in southern GermanySarah von Adelmannsfelden0Felix Fornoff1University of FreiburgUniversity of FreiburgIsodontia mexicana (Sphecidae) is a neozoic wasp in Europe. Since its first recording in France in the 1960s, it has spread throughout Europe and is now considered established. It preys on grasshoppers for its larvae but so far, there is little empirical evidence on the composition of prey species and the wasp’s preference for nest tube diameters from Europe. For further insights into prey and nesting preferences, we placed layer nests with 4 different cavity diameters in contrasting habitats in Southwest Germany. The wasp’s prey consisted of two grasshopper species, Oecanthus pellucens and Meconema meridionale. For O. pellucens, 80% of the prey found were female, for M. meridionale 52% and the mean body length of M. meridionale was 11.92 mm (SD = 0.95) and that of O. pellucens was 12.31 mm (SD = 1.02). The preferred cavity diameter for nests was 11 mm, with preference given to deeper cavities within the offered layer nest. The flexibility in prey species may reduce the threat for individual prey species populations, but may allow further spread of the Sphecid wasp. However, the preference for relatively large diameters reduces the expected competition risk with native bees below previous expectations.https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/148947/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Sarah von Adelmannsfelden Felix Fornoff Prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in southern Germany Journal of Hymenoptera Research |
| title | Prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in southern Germany |
| title_full | Prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in southern Germany |
| title_fullStr | Prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in southern Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in southern Germany |
| title_short | Prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in southern Germany |
| title_sort | prey and nesting preferences of the alien wasp isodontia mexicana hymenoptera sphecidae in southern germany |
| url | https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/148947/download/pdf/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahvonadelmannsfelden preyandnestingpreferencesofthealienwaspisodontiamexicanahymenopterasphecidaeinsoutherngermany AT felixfornoff preyandnestingpreferencesofthealienwaspisodontiamexicanahymenopterasphecidaeinsoutherngermany |