The genome sequence of the ornate tailed digger wasp, Cerceris rybyensis (Linnaeus, 1771)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Cerceris rybyensis (the ornate tailed digger wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 574 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly, 89.81%, is scaffolded into 14 chromosomal pseudomolecules.

NEW RECORDS OF CERCERIS TUBERCULATA (VILLERS, 1787) (HYMENOPTERA: CRABRONIDAE) FROM UKRAINE, WITH NOTES ON ITS PARASITOIDS AND PREY

Present paper reports observations on the digger wasp Cerceris tuberculata (Villers, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), listed in Red Data Book of Ukraine, its parasitoids and prey. The observations revealed two parasitoids associated with this wasp: a cuckoo wasp Hedychrum virens Dahlbom, 1845 (Chrysididae) and velvet ant Nemka viduata viduata (Pallas, 1773) (Mutillidae). The host-parasitoid association of this velvet ant and C. tuberculata is provided for the first time. Four species of weevils were registered as a prey of C. tuberculata, three of them are given for the first time herein. New records of the species from Zaporizhzhya and Kherson Regions are provided; the species is reported from Zaporizhzhia Region for the first time.

Discovery of the digger wasp genus Odontosphex Arnold, 1951 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Spheciformes) in Central Asia, with description of a new species

The genus Odontosphex Arnold, 1951 is newly recorded from Central Asia. A new species, Odontosphex lelejisp. nov., is described and illustrated based on males from Turkmenistan (Badkhyz Nature Reserve, Eroyulanduz valley). Keys to males and females of all known species of Odontosphex are provided.

Discovery of the digger wasp genus Argogorytes Ashmead, 1899 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae) in India and description of a new species

The digger wasp genus Argogorytes Ashmead, 1899 is newly reported from India with two species: A. pulawskii Girish Kumar & Dubey sp. nov. from Andaman Islands and A. tonkinensis (Yasumatsu, 1943) from the States of Chhattisgarh and Kerala. Argogorytes tonkinensis (Yasumatsu, 1943) is redescribed. A key to Argogorytes species reported from the Indian subcontinent is provided.

Life History of Oxybelus variegatus Wesmael, 1852 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) with a Description of the Mature Larva

The first comprehensive information on the bionomics of the digger wasp Oxybelus variegatus Wesmael, 1852 is presented. Females nested in small aggregations in crevices between paving stones of a frequently used pedestrian pathway in lowland agricultural wasteland. Nests were dug in the ground using mandibles, legs and abdomen. The nest consists of a main burrow with one or, rarely, two cells. The mature larva is described for the first time. The egg stage lasts for about two days before the larva hatches. The female provisioned each cell with an average of 11 paralysed male flies of Delia platura (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). Numerous females of dipteran kleptoparasites were observed in the nesting area of O. variegatus. However, only a few nests were infested by larvae of Senotainia conica (Fallen, 1810).

Hymenopteran Pests: Families Sphecidae and Vespidae

This chapter studies bees and wasps in the families Sphecidae and Vespidae. Many ground-nesting bees and wasps become troublesome pests of turfgrass in much the same way that ants are a pest. Their nesting habits create mounds of soil as they bring subsoil to the surface in making their galleries and nests. One of the more prominent is the cicada killer, a large wasp with unusual habits. It produces major soil surface disruption while burrowing, in part because of its large size. This species is also called the sand hornet or golden digger wasp. Other bees and wasps, such as yellowjackets and hornets, do not damage turf directly but can be a nuisance by virtue of their aggressive behavior and ability to inflict painful stings.

The digger wasps of the genus Palmodes Kohl, 1890 in Central Asia (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Prionychini)

All available information about the seven species of the digger wasp genus Palmodes Kohl known from Central Asia is summarized. A lectotype is designated for Sphex minor F. Morawitz, 1890. A new species Palmodes hissaricus Danilov is described and illustrated. Sphex mandarinius F. Smith, 1856 is resurrected from synonymy. The following new synonymy has been established: Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith, 1856) (= Sphex montanus F. Morawitz, 1889), Palmodes melanarius (Mocsáry, 1883) (= Sphex pusillus Gussakovskij, 1930), Palmodes minor (F. Morawitz, 1890) (= Sphex parvulus Roth in de Beaumont, 1967), Palmodes occitanicus (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau et Serville, 1828) (= Sphex palmetorum Roth, 1963). An original key to the Palearctic species is provided.

Four new species of the digger wasp genus Ammophila W. Kirby, 1798 (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) from Central Asia

Four new species of Ammophila from Central Asia are described and illustrated: A. antoninae (Tajikistan), A. kondarensis (Tajikistan), A. nemkovi (Uzbekistan), and A. yaroslavi (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan).