Biology:Dielis tejensis

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Short description: Species of scoliid wasp


Dielis tejensis
File:Dielis tejensis (572047034).jpg
Female Dielis tejensis in Stockdale, Texas.
Male Dielis tejensis seen at flower in Burleson County, Texas.
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Scoliidae
Genus: Dielis
Species:
D. tejensis
Binomial name
Dielis tejensis
Szafranski, 2023

Dielis tejensis is a species of scoliid wasp. It is endemic to Texas.[1]

Etymology

The specific epithet comes from the latinized form of "Tejas", the Spanish name for Texas.[1]

Description and identification

The species was described from male specimens in 2023 based on genetic differences to other Dielis species. It is chromatically distinguished from the males of all other North American species of the tribe Campsomerini (except for D. pillipies) by having five stripes along its abdomen rather than four.[1] The female was described in 2026. It resembles the females of both D. plumipes confluenta and D. plumipes plumipes in coloration but differs from all other North American members of the genus in having the mesoscutum and scutellum less densely punctate.[2]

Biology

As with most species of scoliid wasps, it is thought to parasitize soil-inhabiting Scarabaeoidea beetle grubs. However, the exact host for its larva is currently unknown.[1] Adults frequently take nectar from Hymenopappus artemisiifolius.[2]

Distribution

Dielis tejensis is currently only known from Texas from the gulf coast west to Kent county.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Szafranski, Przemyslaw (2023-02-02). "New Dielis species and structural dichotomy of the mitochondrial cox2 gene in Scoliidae wasps" (in en). Scientific Reports 13 (1). doi:10.1038/s41598-023-27806-x. ISSN 2045-2322. PMID 36732536. Bibcode2023NatSR..13.1950S. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Szafranski, Przemyslaw (2026-03-09). "Alloreferent and Apparent Seasonal Polyphenism of Dielis tejensis with an Updated Key to Nearctic Dielis Species (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae)" (in en). Insects 17 (3). doi:10.3390/insects17030295. 

Wikidata ☰ Q123560798 entry