Psen ater (Olivier,1792)
Synonyms
Sphex ater FABRICIUS 1794 preocc.; Psen atratus JURINE 1807; Pelopoeus compressicornis FABRICIUS 1794; Psen serraticornis JURINE 1807
Description and notes
This species is probably extinct in Britain, with all records from more than 100 years ago.
Distribution
The records came from North Hampshire and East Suffolk (Richards, 1980). The Suffolk observations possibly relate to the areas around Ipswich and Lowestoft (Falk, 1991).
Overseas, this is extremely rare in Fennoscandia, but widely distributed in the Palaearctic to Japan (Lomholdt, 1984).
Status in Britain and Ireland
Probably extinct, being unrecorded since 1850.
Habitat
Lomholdt (1984) states that the species is found in "sandy localities".
Flight period
Unknown.
Prey collected
In keeping with the closely related Mimumesa species, small cicadas e.g. from the family Issidae, are collected, with 10-20 in each of 6-12 cells branching off from a central burrow (Falk 1991).
Nesting biology
Lomholdt records the species as nesting in steep sandy banks, although Richards (1980) also speculates about the use of old beetle holes in dead wood.
Flowers visited
No information available.
Parasites
No information available.
Year profile last updated
2005