Crossocerus palmatus DE STEFANI PEREZ,1844, preocc ; Crossocerus palmipes misident.
A small black solitary wasp. Identification keys are given in Yeo & Corbet (1995), Lomholdt (1984) and Richards (1980).
A widespread species recorded throughout much of Britain. Overseas recorded from much of Europe, eastwards to central Asia (Bitsch & Leclerq 1993).
This species is not regarded as scarce or threatened.
Recorded from a variety of habitats including old quarries, gardens and woodland.
Univoltine, on the wing in mid-summer.
Nest burrows are stocked with a range of small Diptera from various families, e.g. Empididae, Dolichopodidae, Drosophilidae, Chloropidae and Agromyzidae (Lomholdt 1984).
A species nesting in the ground in open sunny situations, often gregariously. Richards (1980) states that the species may also be found nesting in soft mortar in old walls. The nest burrow descends approximately 5 cm into the substrate, with 1-3 cells being constructed at the bottom (Lomholdt 1984).
None recorded.
None recorded.
2009