Crossocerus tarsatus (Shuckard,1837)
Synonyms
Crossocerus palmatus DE STEFANI PEREZ,1844, preocc ; Crossocerus palmipes misident.
Description and notes
A small black solitary wasp. Identification keys are given in Yeo & Corbet (1995), Lomholdt (1984) and Richards (1980).
Distribution
A widespread species recorded throughout much of Britain. Overseas recorded from much of Europe, eastwards to central Asia (Bitsch & Leclerq 1993).
Status (in Britain only)
This species is not regarded as scarce or threatened.
Habitat
Recorded from a variety of habitats including old quarries, gardens and woodland.
Flight period
Univoltine, on the wing in mid-summer.
Prey collected
Nest burrows are stocked with a range of small Diptera from various families, e.g. Empididae, Dolichopodidae, Drosophilidae, Chloropidae and Agromyzidae (Lomholdt 1984).
Nesting biology
A species nesting in the ground in open sunny situations, often gregariously. Richards (1980) states that the species may also be found nesting in soft mortar in old walls. The nest burrow descends approximately 5 cm into the substrate, with 1-3 cells being constructed at the bottom (Lomholdt 1984).
Flowers visited
None recorded.
Parasites
None recorded.
Year profile last updated
2009