Sericophorus metallescens

Western Australia WaspsSericophorus metallescens

Sericophorus metallescens belong to the genus Sericophorus are a group of wasps that nest in the soil (common name of Sand Wasps). As well as feeding on flowers, they hunt flies to feed to their larvae.

Following is the female Sericophorus metallescens (note the colour of the legs).

Following is the male Sericophorus metallescens (with black legs).

and the male and female Sericophorus metallescens mating.

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Many thanks to Ken Walker for the following:
At time of writing, Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) had only 4 records for Sericophorus metallescens, with all 4 records from the eastern states. Apparently, the Midwest WA area has at least 4 recorded species: S. froggatti, S. littoralis, S. relucens and S. wheeleri. The last taxonomic work on the Australian Sericophorus dates back to the 1970s so who knows what we really have.

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Hexapoda
• Class: Insecta
• Subclass: Pterygota
• Order: Hymenoptera
• Suborder: Apocrita
• Infraorder: Aculeata
• Superfamily: Apoidea
• Family: Crabronidae
• Subfamily: Crabroninae
• Genus: Sericophorus
• Subgenus: Sericophorus
• Species: Sericophorus metallescens

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Western Australia WaspsSericophorus metallescens

Western Australia InsectsBees (Native Bees) Beetles Moths Planthopper Wasps

Western Australia FaunaBirds Insects Reptiles Spiders

Western AustraliaWestern Australia Fauna Western Australia Flora The Batavia Coast and Midwest WA Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park Great Southern WA South West WA Stirling Range National Park