Subfamily Crabroninae

Comprised of more than 20 Australian species.

Tribe Trypoxylini
The crabronids in this tribe are easily recognisable by the eyes being distinctly notched on the inner orbits. Female Trypoxylins prey on spiders. The species are all black to black and red.

Genus Pison

                

Tribe Crabronini

Generally robust crabronids with thick legs and large, cuboid-shaped heads. The inner orbits of the eyes usually strongly converging below towards the antennal insertions. Forewings with only one submarginal cell. The antennae are short, but the scape long (for crabronids), the latter being around a third of the overall length of the antennae. Tasmanian crabronins have the abdomen pedunculate (Podagritus and Rhopalium), or sessile (Williamsita). Various families of flies (eg. Tachinidae, Calliphoridae, Lauxaniidae, Therevidae, Stratiomyidae etc) are typically preyed upon within this tribe.

Genus Podagritus

Tribe Larrini

Typically the inner orbit of the eyes converge above. The outer ocelli are vestigial, being represented by variously shaped ‘scars’. The fore wing third submarginal cell extends out in a distinctive narrow shape. Jugal lobe of hind wing large (close to the length of the anal area). From biological records elsewhere, Tasmanian female Larrins (respective genus followed in parentheses) likely prey upon mole crickets (Larra), field crickets (Liris), native cockroaches (Tachysphex), and grasshoppers and Tettigoniidae (Tachytes).

    

Tribe Miscophini
The ocelli are normally developed, and the inner orbits of the eyes are straight or only slightly sinuate (ie not distinctly converging below or above, nor are they notched). When present, the jugal lobe of the hind wing is not large. From biological records elsewhere, Tasmanian female Miscophins (respective genus follows in parentheses) likely prey upon pentatomoid bug nymphs (Sphodrotes), field crickets and pygmy grasshoppers (Lyroda), various fly families (Sericophorus), and Psocoptera (Nitela).

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Pending ID  – Crabroninae
#1. Late December 2022
nipaluna/Hobart
Very low set antennae suggest Crabronidae, Crabroninae, Crabronini, Crabronina.Poss. Rhopalum sp
Identification and information thanks to Bernhard Jacobi

IMG 5406  IMG 5407  IMG 5408  IMG 5409  IMG 5410  IMG 5411  IMG 5412

References

Bohart, R. M., & Menke, A. S. 1976. Sphecid wasps of the world: a generic revision. Berkeley, University of California Press.

Evans, H & O’Neill, K 2007, The Sand Wasps:Natural History and Behavior, Harvard University Press, USA.

Naumann, I. D. 1990. Description of the caliginosum species group of the genus Pison Jurine (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Larrinae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 29: 233-245.
Semmens, T. D., McQuillan, P. B., & Hayhurst G. 1992. Catalogue of the Insects of Tasmania. Department of Primary Industry Tasmania.
Stringer, D. N., Jennings, J. T., & Austin, A. D. 2012. Family Crabronidae. Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Viewed 9 July 2018. Available at: https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/CRABRONIDAE
Turner, R. E. 1908. Notes on the Australian fossorial wasps of the family Sphegidae, with descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1908: 457-535.
Turner, R. E. 1914. Notes on fossorial Hymenoptera. XIII. A revision of the Paranyssoninae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 14: 337-359.
Turner, R. E. 1915. Notes on fossorial Hymenoptera. XVI. On the Thynnidae, Scoliidae and Crabronidae of Tasmania. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 15: 537-559.

Turner, R. E. 1916. Notes on the wasps of the genus Pison, and some allied genera. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1916: 591-629.