Sceliphron spirifex

Sceliphron spirifex
	S. spirifex in Tanzania
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Suborder:	Apocrita
Family:	Sphecidae
Genus:	Sceliphron
Species:	S. spirifex
Binomial name
	Sceliphron spirifex; (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
	Sphex spirifex Linnaeus, 1758; Pelopaeus spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758); Sphex aegyptius Linnaeus, 1758; Sphex flavipes Christ, 1791; Sceliphron aegyptiacum Klug, 1801;

Sceliphron spirifex is a species of sphecid wasp. It has a medium-sized body (17–27 millimetres or 0.7–1.1 inches), which is dull black with a long, yellow petiole (waist). The legs are black with yellow bands, the antennae are black and the wings are clear.

Females build large multi-celled mud nests attached to cliffs, rocks, tree trunks, bridges and buildings. The cells are mass-provisioned with several spiders and sealed with mud.

S. spirifex lives in diverse habitats across Africa and Southern Europe, but is strongly associated with buildings and other man-made structures.

References

^ Anonymous (January 19, 2006). "Sceliphron" (PDF).

External links

Media related to Sceliphron spirifex at Wikimedia Commons

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[Anon-1] Anonymous (January 19, 2006). "Sceliphron" (PDF).

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