Symmorphus bifasciatus (Linnaeus,1761)
Synonyms
Symmorphus mutinensis BALDENI 1894; Symmorphus sinuatissimus RICHARDS 1935; Symmorphus sinuatus FABRICIUS 1793 preocc.
Description and notes
See Symmorphus crassicornis for literature on this species.
Distribution
This wasp, previously known as Symmorphus mutinensis (Baldini), occurs throughout Britain and Ireland, including the Channel Islands. So far, however, it has not been recorded from the Isle of Wight. In Scotland it has been recorded as far north as Highland Region.
Status (in Britain only)
This species is not regarded as being threatened.
Habitat
Flight period
May-October; but mainly from June to August, with July being the peak month.
Prey collected
Larvae of the chrysomelid beetle, Phyllodecta vulgatissima.
Nesting biology
Details are given under S. crassicornis, but in addition, S. bifasciatus has been found nesting in disused plant galls of Cynips kollari. Each cell is provisioned with 10-17 beetle larvae.
Flowers visited
Parasites
Chrysis angustula is associated with this species in Europe (Schneider 1991), also Chrysis ignita.
Year profile last updated
1997