my highlights of the season

[Paul]

Hi folks,
the season is nearly finished in my region and I have checked most of the
pictures I could take during the last half year. Although I didn't visit many
different localities I was very happy with the animals I met. Every year my
aim is to get enough pics for the calendar I make.
I've added a visual overview. If you are interested: PM.
All the best!
Paul

[jeromec]

Hi Paul,

Nice poster !
Interessant species (as Holopyga, for the moment, I never found this genus in my region ).
You are very luky for make many of these pictures !
I view only some Chrysidid (often less than 5 by session, except some station when Hedychrum rutilans is very abundant), and I don’t have opportunities to photograph specimens in natura.

what a talent to find individuals and make beautiful scenes !

This year I found +/-15 species in natura : Chrysis rutilans, C. terminata, C. cf. ignita, C. inaequalis, C. fasciata, C. varidens, C. scutellaris, C. analis, C. angustula, Trichrysis cyanea, Chrysura simplex, C. radians, Hedychrum nobile, H. gerstaeckeri, H. rutilans, Hedychridium cf. roseum, H. rossicum/sculpturatum.

(I made the first regional observations for H. nobile, C. scutellaris, C. cf. ignita, C. simplex, now I inventoried +/- 45 species in the region, but I think we have more than 60 species).

Jérôme

[Paul]

Hi Jérôme,
Thanks for your comment!
There are some species in your list I would like to see in my region.
But I think, that's nearly impossible... anyway: I'm hoping for some
new arrivals next season.
All the best!
Paul

[jeromec]

Hi Paul,

For the species that you're not found, I think it is Chrysis varidens ?
This species is common in mediterranean area, I was very surprised to find it, Linsenmaier did not mention it in his synthesis of Switzerland !

But in his book, there are many species that I never found (as many Cleptes, all Elampus, all Philoctetes, not many Hedychridium, zero Holopyga, zero Colpopyga. (but I have some ideas for find Elampini, with the suggestions of Paolo Rosa ).

in Chrysididini : Chrysura simplex (I saw a mystake in my first message, I think my specimens are not Chrysura simplex but more austriaca), Spintharina versicolor, Chrysidea, and many Chrysis (bicolor, germari, succincta, equestris, sexdentata, indigotea, chrysostigma, consanguinea prominea, subsinuata, semicincta, calimorpha, fulgida, splendidula, obtusidens, comta, pseudobrevitarsis, rutiliventris, mediadentata, schencki).
And maybe some confusions are possibles by me (calimorpha group ; viridula group ; splendidula/insperata ; mediata/mediadentata/solida* ; rutiliventris/ruddii, problems in Cleptes, Elampus, etc) : I have no many material for these species.


* I think I have mediata ("old" specimens, cought in the 1970's with mention "nid d'Odynerus spinipes"), and maybe C. solida (slender species with a broad ovipositor, but not pseudobrevitarsis or C. brevitarsis).

[Paul]

Hi Jérôme,
you are right: Chrysis varidens is one of the species I miss in my region.
Some others are possible, but haven't met them til now. One of them
is C. equestris. I know two locations where some single specimen were
collected, but I've never seen one. An other species is Parnopes grandior.
The host Bempix rostata I know from some places and I hope that
P. grandior follows because oft the warming up. 100 years ago this species
was known from one of the areas I usually visit. I still hope...
All the best!
Paul

[jeromec]

Hi,
For Parnopes grandior, I found sometimes (some km of Clermond-Ferrand), you can found this species (sometimes more than 10 specimen viewed) in sandy area (great size for the area).
By example, I find Parnopes grandior in Clermond-Ferrand, but no specimen in Ile de France (south of Paris, but with a nice population of Bembix), no station of P. grandior in my region (but the populations of Bembix rostrata are not very big, and they are very far apart).
Bembix rostrata has a greater distribution than others Bembix, but it is more demanding than B. oculata (more souther species) : I find some population of B. oculata not in sandy area, but all stations of B. rostrata are in sandy soils.

Moreover, a friend great hymenopterist (specialist of Pompilidae, but he is very great in Spheciformes, Chrysididae, etc), saw me than P. grandior goes north along the Atlantic coast.

In my mind, for find stations of Parnopes and Bembix (+ other species as Hedychridium, Hedychrum, Chrysis bicolor, etc, etc). Search coasts or old alluvial valleys, with alluvial deposits. (look the geologic maps with alluvial deposits present).

Jérôme

[Paul]

Hi Jérôme,
Thanks for your thoughts about P. grandior!
Hope this species returns to one of the localities I visit during the season
from where I know they have been there before long time ago.
Best regards!
Paul