The first data on the nesting biology of the invasive blue nest-renting wasp, Chalybion turanicum (Gussakovskij, 1935) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae, Sceliphrinae) in the Crimea

• Published in: Acta Biologica Sibirica
• Main Authors: Alexander V. Fateryga, Mykola M. Kovblyuk, Roman S. Kvetkov
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Altai State University 2020
• Subjects: Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Sibirica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3897/abs.6.e57911; https://doaj.org/article/c82df5cb74ff498688bd5b057b4b18d9

Abstract The nesting biology of Chalybion turanicum (Gussakovskij, 1935) has been studied, with a total of 31 nests being examined. All studied nests were located inside the old nest cells of Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807). Each nest of Ch. turanicum consisted of a single cell. Females hunted for spiders, with 18 species in five families being identified among their prey. Two most abundant victim groups were Theridiidae (eight species, 54% of specimens) and Araneidae (seven species, 33% of specimens) spiders. A spider number stored in a cell varied from five to 31 (mean = 17.6 ± 5.4). In the Crimea, Ch. turanicum has one generation per year with reproductive success of 67%. Two species of the nest parasites were reared from cells of Ch. turanicum: Chrysis taczanovskii Radoszkowski, 1876 and Acroricnus seductor (Scopoli, 1786). Chalybion turanicum is the seventh invasive species of Sphecidae naturalized in Europe.