BembixBembix – Image Index Bembix palmata Bembix vespiformis

— see also Bembicinae

This wasp was first sighted moving across gravel and mulch on the ground (as shown in last 3 photos) but after flying away alighted in a nearby Cotoneaster where it stayed for quite some time.

Bembix palmata is a member of the Sand Wasps, tribe Bembicini.

The shape of the front tarsus is distinctive in this species, and it ticks all the other boxes too. Notably, the shape of the clypeus and labrum, and the overall colour pattern. In some species of Bembix (including B. palmata), there is a medial ridge or other elevation on the second sternite (ie 2nd segment of abdomen, ventrally). It shows up nicely in Photo 4.2

Source: Kerri-Lee Harris, iNaturalistAU
Bembix palmata on a Cotoneaster, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata on a Cotoneaster, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata on a Cotoneaster, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata on a Cotoneaster, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata on a Cotoneaster, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata on a Cotoneaster, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata on a Cotoneaster, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata on a Cotoneaster, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Bembix palmata, Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Informal: Spheciformes
  • Family: Crabronidae
  • Subfamily: Bembicinae
  • Genus: Bembix
  • Species: Bembix palmata

Footnote & References

  1. Bembix palmata Smith, 1856, Wasp, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Bembix palmata
  2. Bembix palmata, debtaylor142 observations, iNaturalistAU, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/259628531

BembixBembix – Image Index Bembix palmata Bembix vespiformis

WaspsWasps Index Australian Large Wasps Australian Mud Nest Wasps Mud Wasp Velvet Ants Abispa ephippium Acarozumia amaliae Aulacidae Australodynerus Bembix Bembicinae Bethylidae Blue Hairy Flower Wasp Braconidae Chrysididae Cryptocheilus Delta latreillei (Potter Wasp) Delta philantes Eumeninae Euodynerus aspra Ferreola handschini (Orange-collared Spider Wasp) Flower Wasps Gasteruptiid Wasp Hairy Flower Wasps Isodontia (Grass-carrying Wasp) Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid Dupe Wasp) Mutillidae Orange Wasps Paralastor sp. Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides Radumeris radula (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Radumeris tasmaniensis (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Rhynchium superbum Sceliphron laetum Sphex Thynnid Wasps Tiphiidae Torymus Yellow and Black Wasp

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub