#pseudabispa

[drhoz]

#2154 - Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. bicolor

An East Coast species - Pseudabispa is an Australian and Papuan genus of potter wasps containing 5 species, with this one subdivided in 4 subspecies.

Pseudabispa wasps closely resemble mason wasps in the genus Abispa, and their distributions overlap. Although these two genera are among the largest solitary wasps in Australia, the biology of Pseudabispa was not well known until a 2010 study near Katherine, in Northern Territory. P. paragioides females were observed killing Abispa ephippium females, usurping their mud nests, stocking them with caterpillars stolen from still other nests, and closing the holes with mud taken from the host nest. 

Uranquinty, NSW

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Potter Wasp  Pseudabispa or Epiodynerus sp.

[drhoz]

#1821 - Pseudabispa bicolor & Entomopathogenic Fungus

Photos by Shar Bush in Innisfail, Far North Queensland. 

They spotted a number of these large wasps, clinging to the ends of a branch in their garden. Which was a doubly odd, since this kleptoparasitic wasp is solitary, and attacks larger potter wasps to take over their nests for their own purpose. 

Each wasp was clinging tightly to the branch with their jaws, and quite dead, which is honestly a mercy if you’re infected with a deadly fungus that’s taken over your brain. In this case the fungus is possibly a Hirsutella sp., in the  Ophiocordycipitaceae, but the entomopathogenic fungi are quite diverse and a taxonomic nightmare. 

The fungus doesn’t seem to have much difficulty infecting other potter wasps either, since even as Shar was taking these photos, a live one flew in to investigate, and probably picked up a fatal dose of spores while they were there. 

[drhoz]

#1359 - Pseudabispa - Fire-tailed Potter Wasp

David Wilson, South-east Queensland.

This genus of potter wasps found in Australia and Papua contains 5 species, with one (Pseudabispa bicolor) subdivided in 4 subspecies. This is probably one of them.

In morphology, size and coloration,  Pseudabispa closely resemble mason wasps ( AKA ‘Australian Hornets’ ) in the genus Abispa, and their distributions overlap. Together they’re some of the largest wasps in Australia, but the biology of Pseudabispa is not well known. In 2010, a field study near Katherine, Northern Territory, strongly suggest that P. paragioides females attack and kill female A. ephippium and usurp their nests, and and further insult to injury by then appropriating the cells the late Abispa built, mass provision them with caterpillars acquired by theft from still other nests, and close them with mud taken from the host nest. They seem pretty fussy about who they’re kleptoparasitise too - there were three other species of large solitary wasps they could have harassed at the site, but focused all their attention on the unfortunate  Abispa ephippium.

P. bicolor has also been seen around balls of dry mud in the base of hollow trees, that turn out to be very well camouflaged brood cells. But the Chews (of Brisbane Insects) couldn’t tell if the larva they found inside was a Pseuabispa, or another solitary wasp the False Australian Hornet intended to oust.