Humped Beewolf

Appearance

"P. gibbosus" is a small and robust wasp that is about 10–12 mm in length. "P. gibbosus" has an especially broad head and a coat of chitin that is shiny black with yellow spots on the head and yellow stripes on the abdomen and thorax. There are very large, deep punctures on the abdomen of "P. gibbosus", making the species easy and distinct to identify in comparison to other members of the genus "Philanthus".

Naming

Species name gibbosus from Latin gibb- humped.

Synonyms:
Vespa gibbosus Fabricius, 1775 (original combination)

"P. gibbosus" is of the order Hymenoptera and the genus "Philanthus".

Distribution

"P. gibbosus" is a common and widely distributed species in North America. It has been primarily observed to inhabit the central Midwestern United States; it has been observed as far west as Kansas and as far south as Georgia, but tends to be concentrated around Missouri and Tennessee. "P. gibbosus" also tends to inhabit coastal areas where the soil has a sandy composition.

Behavior

Adult "P. gibbosus" females are responsible for digging tunnels into the ground for nesting. Meanwhile, territorial males mark objects and supporting structures surrounding the nest with pheromones to demarcate the nesting territory from competing males.

The larvae generated by the females are carnivorous, which forces the inseminated females to hunt for other invertebrates, in this case bees, on which she lays her eggs. By laying her eggs on pollen-coated bee species, the larvae are supplied with prey for nutrients instantly when they emerge. The adults, on the other hand, feed on nectar that is foraged from flowers.

Because "P. gibbosus" is a solitary wasp species, there is not much need for intra-species communication. However, when mating, males are responsible for marking the territory surrounding the nest with pheromones as a means of warding off other competing males from mating with the female in the nest. These pheromones are the main form of intra-communication, specifically between the different, individual males of "P. gibbosus".

Habitat

"P. gibbosus" is known to prefer the climate and habitat of deciduous forests. "P. gibbosus" prefers the soil composition of deciduous and coastal regions because it builds its nests in burrows. Thus, the soil must be of an ideal composition for burrowing.

Food

"P. gibbosus" spend a significant amount of time loitering around flowers and other plants in search of insect prey to feed their young, most often bee species. Some common bee species that "P. gibbosus" predates include "C. sparsus", "O. pura", and "E. arcuatus".

Predators

Although "P. gibbosus" feeds on insects, they are also prey for certain insects as well. Predatory insects for "P. gibbosus" include praying mantis, robber flies, and dragonflies. Sometimes"," smaller "P. gibbosus" individuals will be preyed on by larger wasps. Some birds will even regularly consume wasps. A few examples of birds that prey on "P. gibbosus" include sparrows, wrens, and summer tanagers. In general, these birds normally exclusively hunt solitary wasps, making "P. gibbosus" an ideal target. Moreover, the birds avoid disturbing P. gibbosus near their nests.

Defense

"P. gibbosus" prefers nesting in sandy soil. Because soils with high sand composition are lighter in weight than other types of soil, they are ideal for the burrowing behavior of "P. gibbosus" since sandy soil is easier to dig through.

Moreover, the nesting sites are usually centered around some sort of supporting structure, for example underneath bricks, tree roots, or cement. As a result, weedy, sandy areas of earth are strongly preferable as nesting sites for "P. gibbosus", which can often be found near coastal areas as a result."P. gibbosus" is notable in that it stings its prey in a membranous location on the ventral surface of the abdomen where the venom is quick to incapacitate many major, voluntary muscles.

The paralyzing effect of the injected venom is likely due largely in part to a block of the somatic neuromuscular transmission. It has also been established that the venom is not limited exclusively to the natural prey, the honey bee, but also in many other insect species belonging to different orders, including spiders. Only "P. triangulum" itself and a digger wasp that preys on "P. triangulum" are immune to the venom.

However, the sting does not kill the prey. The prey may attempt to sting in return, but "P. gibbosus" always grabs the prey in such a way that the well-armored portions of the body are presented, thus protecting "P. gibbosus" from a retaliation by the prey. "P. gibbosus" then carries its paralyzed prey back to an oval cell in its nest for temporary storage until it is later used in the laying of an egg."P. gibbosus" has a sting that is painful and menacing enough to deter most potential predators.

"P. gibbosuss black and yellow coloring serves as a warning to other organisms, as that color pattern often indicates a dangerous species. Additionally, the burrowing behavior of "P. gibbosus" provides the species with a suitable hiding spot to avoid predators. Because the burrows are so far into the ground, usually around two feet, "P. gibbosus" is able to avoid predation by remaining in its burrow.

Cultural

"P. gibbosus" is a pollinator of some plants. It has been observed pollinating carrot plants.