Pelopei vulgaris: the lifestyle of digging wasps and the peculiarities of building earthen clay nests
Content:
Burrowing wasps are known as dexterous predators and caring parents. They build nests for larvae and fill them with food. Each species procures a certain type of insect - caterpillars, spiders, butterflies. Pelopei or stselifron builds shelters for larvae from mud, filling them with exclusively paralyzed spiders. Wasps are widespread in Europe and Asia, but their populations are small. The insect has received conservation status and is listed in the Red Book of Russia.
View description
Common Pelope (Sceliphrondestillatorium) - a digging wasp from the genus stselifron, which includes 30 species. A large insect with a length of 15-29 mm has a body structure characteristic of the stalk-bellied. There is an elongated stalk or waist between the chest and abdomen. The dominant color is black. Yellow is present on the first segment of the antennae, wing cups, stalk, and limbs. Wings transparent with light brown venation.
The structure of the pelopey is typical for hymenoptera - all parts of the body (head, chest, abdomen) are separated from each other. The complex eyes are well developed, the antennae are articulate, the mouth apparatus is gnawing. But powerful mandibles are not the main weapons of wasps. The abdomen of the insect ends with a sting. It combines with the glands that produce paralyzing poison. Long black hairs and thick gray pubescence cover the head and chest. Insects have sexual dimorphism - females are larger than males 22-30 mm, males - 15-25 mm.
Distribution area
Pelopei common in areas with a warm and dry climate. Wasp is found in Central Asia, North Africa, Mongolia, southern Europe, and the Caucasus. In Russia, it is noted in the south of the European part. The northern border of the habitat is limited to the Nizhny Novgorod region. It is found scattered on the territory of the Russian Federation; in the Ryazan region, single individuals (1-3 wasps) were observed in various areas.
Lifestyle
Digging wasps of a loner, they live separately, females and males contact only during mating. They are characterized by complex behavior: building nests, caring for offspring. Some wasps build nests in houses and outbuildings, choosing secluded niches, crevices, and ventilation holes. The best option is a well-heated attic. The attics under the iron roof are especially relevant for the Pelope. The roof is heated under the summer sun, providing a high temperature for the development of larvae.
The construction of cells in the house does not constitute a danger to its residents. Sceliphrondestillatorium females do not remain to defend their nest. Young wasps that appeared next year are not aggressive. They will leave their house and fly away in search of a comfortable habitat. In the southern regions, the wasp pelopei builds nests in natural shelters (caves, stones), but in the temperate zone the natural climate is not suitable for posterity. Insects are found near villages or small towns. They seek shelter for nests in heated buildings.In the open space, buildings made of mud are soaked at the slightest moisture; they collapse after the first rain.
Scelifron is a thermophilic species. Insects are active at high temperature. Years of imago begin in June. Adult wasps feed on nectar, prefer umbrella plants. Larvae are carnivorous; their food is spiders left by their mother. The accumulation of single wasps can be observed on the shore of a small reservoir - puddles, streams, ponds. Females with the help of mandibles and forelegs roll up lumps of dirt. This is the building material for the nest. At night, wasps sleep on trees and bushes.
Nest building process
The house for posterity consists of elongated cells 3 cm long. Each of them is built, then filled with prey. Only then the wasp begins to erect the next cell. Construction takes 1-2 days. The female has to make 12-15 flights to bring the necessary amount of dirt. After the construction of all cells, the nest is covered with an additional layer of dirt.
Spiders are placed in a special way large and rigid specimens are laid closer to the exit. The larva will have time to grow and get stronger, until it reaches them. Wasp carries prey through the air. She drags the first spider, backing away. An egg is laid on it. The rest of the pelopey pushes into the hole. In a year, several generations manage to change. Summer offspring will grow in 30-40 days.
Information. Pelopei vulgaris does not show aggression towards humans. The insect benefits by catching spiders and other pests.
Propagation Features
After fertilization, the female begins to build a nest for posterity. One egg is laid in each clay capsule filled with spiders. The entrance is closed with a lid from the substrate. The contacts of mother and offspring end there. The larva has a white worm-like body, completely unlike a slender pelopei. The offspring is inactive and defenseless against any danger. Their limbs are reduced. The larva grows and develops by eating stocks. A small head consists almost entirely of jaws.
Paralyzed, but living spiders serve as a source of protein until larvae grow and pupate. 5 to 10 different spiders are placed in a cell. There are dangerous species among the victims, but a dexterous wasp instantly paralyzes the prey with a sting in the nerve center. The embryo develops in the egg 3-4 days. The larva eats for 2 weeks, then makes a cocoon. At a young age, it can for a long time be in a state close to diapause. This allows you to survive low temperatures and other adverse conditions. After a change in the situation, development resumes. Young Pelopei gnaw at freedom at the end of June. Winters in pronimph stage.
Interesting fact. Among all the representatives of the family of burrowing wasps, pelopaia females are considered the most skilled nest builders.
One of the reasons for the reduction in the number of stselifrons is the low survival rate of the offspring. During her life, the female lays 15-20 eggs. Some of the nests are washed away by rains and snow. Insects in destroyed cells become easy prey for rodents. Among the natural enemies of the Pelopianus: wasp-gloss and wasp-German. They penetrate the nest and lay eggs in the formed cocoon.
Protective measures and limiting factors
Of the 30 species of the Szelephron genus living in Russia, 3 need protection. The reduction in the number of Sceliphrondestillatorium forced the insect to be included in the Red Books of several regions: Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan and Vladimir.
There are several reasons for the decrease in the number of wasps of pelopei:
- in winter, the larvae die from frost;
- high humidity provokes the appearance of fungi that are harmful to the offspring of wasps;
- a large number of parasites;
- mechanical destruction of clay nests;
- catching scelofrons for the collection.
Limiting factors include the use of insecticides and the destruction of habitat.As protective measures for species listed in the Red Book, the capture of adults and the destruction of nests is prohibited. Economic activity is prohibited in the habitats of the common pelopeya.
Pelopeius: lifestyle and features of the construction of earthen clay nests
(votes: 28, average rating: 4,93 out of 5)
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In our village (Ryaz. Region) there were a huge number of these wasps. Huge, creepy. Out of nowhere appeared. Six years have passed and they are completely invisible. Sorry, knowing that they are rare.
I caught one I found out that in the red book I let go
A few days ago, such a wasp flew into my apartment (5th floor, impossible frying). I thought a subspecies of a hornet, got scared, they eventually drove out through the balcony, in a couple of days again it flew near the balcony and windows. I saw the same at the pond. Apparently she wanted to build a nest in the heat) now she learned that this is an endangered species.
Ivanovo region
We have such a nest in the summer soul for the third day ... They wanted to remove it and found out that the wasps eat insects and do not pose a threat ... They are now watching it ... Beautiful, but when it’s terribly dizzy
In the Tula region in the village of Volchya-Dubrava, they made a blind area in a private house. This wasp, pelopeya, crawled on freshly poured cement. It arrived for several days in a row today. Mid July 2018.
I came across in the garage in Novosibirsk, I had never met such people before, made a nest in the garage and stuffed with spiders, I had to remove it and ask Pelopeia to fly away)
In Abkhazia, I saw a similar one, flew into the window a couple of times and flew right at me. I almost didn’t ditch her with a towel]
I live in the Kharkov region I live in a panel house, 2nd floor. Pelopeia settled in the hole for a self-tapping screw securing the metal-plastic door to the loggia. I’ve watched 3 days. Interesting.
I live in Kursk and I have one living on my balcony, diving and buzzing in the gap near the window, and so she flies over the whole day many times. And yesterday, I found a cocoon of dirt on the floor of the balcony, and there are 6 spiders inside, I'm in shock! And I don’t know how to drive her away from my balcony. I have a cat all day alone at home, I'm afraid that if she sees it, it will be a disaster. In principle, it does not bother me, I’ve even got used to it, she’s great job, hard worker!
All summer the window did not close, and closer to winter, on the back of the curtain, I found two such cocoons in the area of the window. I live in a high-rise building, on the 6th floor.
Today is 06/09/19. Podolsk Moscow region.
For five days now I have been observing how a beautiful hardworking pelopei builds his nest.
Already 11 cocoons have been built and are not appeased. Cocoons sculpt on a stack of CDs for jars of vitamins.
Sometimes I clean the jars when she flies away and take pictures. A very interesting process of building a cocoon.
At first it is very dark brown, almost black when finished to the end she waits for it to dry and turn light pale gray, slightly brownish.
I take pictures only when it flies away so as not to disturb, so the process of laying an egg and stuffing a cocoon with spiders cannot naturally be removed.
The acquaintance told everyone vyingly began to advise me to kill her, and tossed the cocoons.
Thank God I live alone therefore I guarantee that my Penelope’s offspring, as I call it, will hatch everything, well, unless of course everything turns out favorably. In any case, I will intervene in this process solely from good intentions if my help is needed.
I noticed that the nest sculpts only when the sun is burning, if the sun has set behind the clouds, then all the movement stops.
Then the time comes for my camera, I click it with a flash from different angles. It’s a pity that you can’t put a photo here, otherwise I would have boasted.
To all good and health, take care of nature - your mother!
Hello Michael! Send photos to this address: info@beetlestop.ru, we will publish in the article.
I got it in a bucket.
At first I didn’t touch it, but now I understood what was right,.
How I sensed that they are rare
Tula region, Uzlovaya. Hello, today, by pure chance, 7 pitchers were found on the balcony. One was broken for the sake of curiosity. A bunch of spiders ... In search of what it came across on this page. An amazingly interesting insect and a beautiful name. Unfortunately my husband did not like my admiration and threw out all the houses (((
Damn, today I cleaned and washed the cocoons into the toilet! Did not know that this is an endangered species?
built a house that looked like a piece of dirt stuck to the wall
do they sting painfully?
In our city in Ramensky district, these wasps appeared. They scared us, they had never seen such people before. We drive, as usual os =)
For a couple of weeks I saw a wasp arriving, but did not pay attention. And today she noticed that she was climbing into mine, a bag that hangs on a hook in the room) asked her husband to check what was there. And there are cocoons! In the bag))) we had no idea that the wasp was dying ((so they threw the cocoons out the window. Now I'm sorry. Although the spiders are also sorry. Eh.
Resting in Crimea in Alushta. Such a wasp has already made two houses in my room. One on the curtain (I threw it out), the second is now found on the back of the sofa ...
Finally found out who it is. Unhappy Pipi! Arrived at our room in Greece, silent, with a long tail, partly frightening. Always under the chair. When I turned it over, I saw innumerable pebbles, as if tartan ones, and there were spiders and midges in them ... I asked the reception what to do, the girl thought and guessed “pipi!”, And the attendant came from her and banged the builder with a towel or newspaper, so as not to interfere. And she didn’t want to bite anyone, and she had to endure, and we ... now I regret that I complained about her.