Nesting ecology of the Pacific cicada killer, Sphecius convallis Patton (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), in the Sonoran Desert
Factors affecting the ecology of a large population of Pacific cicada killers (Sphecius convallis) occupying a field of mine tailings in Ruby, AZ, were examined. Burrows were quite dense in certain areas around the periphery of the mine tailings, but were dispersed randomly within these areas. Appro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hymenoptera Research |
| Online Access: | https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/59206/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1819280347210186752 |
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| author | Joseph R. Coelho Jon M. Hastings Charles W. Holliday |
| author_facet | Joseph R. Coelho Jon M. Hastings Charles W. Holliday |
| author_sort | Joseph R. Coelho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Factors affecting the ecology of a large population of Pacific cicada killers (Sphecius convallis) occupying a field of mine tailings in Ruby, AZ, were examined. Burrows were quite dense in certain areas around the periphery of the mine tailings, but were dispersed randomly within these areas. Approximately 1600 females (based on burrow counts) and 2500 males (based on mark-recapture) were recorded, yielding a total population estimate of 5000–6000 adults. Female wasps were able to dig much more rapidly in the mine tailings than their congeners S. speciosus in soils from PA, suggesting that the habitat suitability was a large factor in this robust population. Provisioning rate was comparatively slow, however, suggesting that cicada abundance in that year was not a contributor to the high population density. The presence of a sap-producing tree may have eased the energetic and thermoregulatory demands of the wasps. Although excavations revealed that the number of burrows and cells could easily maintain the population size, the lack of cicadas probably resulted instead in a population crash the following season. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:42:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41fd952f6d6040438fe4f1b82a27edda |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1314-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:42:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hymenoptera Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-41fd952f6d6040438fe4f1b82a27edda2022-12-21T17:23:56ZengPensoft PublishersJournal of Hymenoptera Research1314-26072020-12-018017719110.3897/jhr.80.5920659206Nesting ecology of the Pacific cicada killer, Sphecius convallis Patton (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), in the Sonoran DesertJoseph R. Coelho0Jon M. Hastings1Charles W. Holliday2Quincy UniversityNorthern Kentucky UniversityLafayette CollegeFactors affecting the ecology of a large population of Pacific cicada killers (Sphecius convallis) occupying a field of mine tailings in Ruby, AZ, were examined. Burrows were quite dense in certain areas around the periphery of the mine tailings, but were dispersed randomly within these areas. Approximately 1600 females (based on burrow counts) and 2500 males (based on mark-recapture) were recorded, yielding a total population estimate of 5000–6000 adults. Female wasps were able to dig much more rapidly in the mine tailings than their congeners S. speciosus in soils from PA, suggesting that the habitat suitability was a large factor in this robust population. Provisioning rate was comparatively slow, however, suggesting that cicada abundance in that year was not a contributor to the high population density. The presence of a sap-producing tree may have eased the energetic and thermoregulatory demands of the wasps. Although excavations revealed that the number of burrows and cells could easily maintain the population size, the lack of cicadas probably resulted instead in a population crash the following season.https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/59206/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Joseph R. Coelho Jon M. Hastings Charles W. Holliday Nesting ecology of the Pacific cicada killer, Sphecius convallis Patton (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), in the Sonoran Desert Journal of Hymenoptera Research |
| title | Nesting ecology of the Pacific cicada killer, Sphecius convallis Patton (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), in the Sonoran Desert |
| title_full | Nesting ecology of the Pacific cicada killer, Sphecius convallis Patton (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), in the Sonoran Desert |
| title_fullStr | Nesting ecology of the Pacific cicada killer, Sphecius convallis Patton (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), in the Sonoran Desert |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nesting ecology of the Pacific cicada killer, Sphecius convallis Patton (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), in the Sonoran Desert |
| title_short | Nesting ecology of the Pacific cicada killer, Sphecius convallis Patton (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), in the Sonoran Desert |
| title_sort | nesting ecology of the pacific cicada killer sphecius convallis patton hymenoptera crabronidae in the sonoran desert |
| url | https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/59206/download/pdf/ |
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