SYMMORPHUS CANADENSIS
Symmorphus canadensis
MASON WASP FAMILY (Vespidae)
This mason wasp is approximately 3/8 inch in length. It is black with purplish iridescence and yellow markings. The thorax has a broken yellow collar behind the head and yellow posterior dorsal spots. The abdomen has 3 yellow bands. The legs are yellow and black. The wings are clear with purple iridescence.
The frequency of occurrence is not known. The female shown here was photographed in mid-July in Fontenelle Forest.
The female makes nests in borings in wood and twigs and uses mud for cell partitions and closing plugs. The adult provisions her nest with leaf-mining beetle larvae or lepidoptera larvae.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Loren Padelford.