Euodynerus quadrifasciatus (Fabricius,1793)
Synonyms
Pseudepipona tomentosus THOMSON 1870
Description and notes
Previously known as Pseudepipona tomentosus (Thomson, 1870). Identification keys and general biology are given in Spradbery (1973), Richards (1980), Yeo & Corbet (1995) and Archer (2000).
Distribution
Devon, Dorset, Berkshire and Surrey, with a nineteenth century record from West Gloucestershire. See Richards (1958), Falk (1991) and Else (1992) for further information.
Overseas found in many parts of Europe (including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Bulgaria and Russia (Karelia)); north Africa (Morocco); and Asia (Armenia, Russia (east to far-eastern Maritime Kray), Mongolia and Japan).
Status (in Britain only)
Shirt (1987) lists this species as Rare (RDB3); Falk (1991) lists it as Vulnerable (RDB2). The shortage of recent records suggests its status should be reviewed.
Habitat
Limestone quarries, pebble beaches and slopes of coastal cliffs. Seen flying over heather and bramble.
Flight period
Univoltine; from May until August but most often seen during June and July.
Prey collected
Probably larvae of microlepidoptera (Tortricidae) and beetles (Chrysomelidae).
Nesting biology
A tube-dweller, recorded nesting in holes in beach pebbles and holes in large stones. Probably also nests in burrows in dead wood. Witt (1998) illustrates a female engaged in nest building, but no further information has been found.
Flowers visited
Dewberry and wall cotoneaster.
Parasites
No British records; overseas, Kunz (1994) gives the wasp Chrysis longula Abeille de Perrin.
Year profile last updated
2001