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[[File:Mediterranean house gecko ambush.jpg|thumb|A [[Mediterranean house gecko]] in ambush on a nest of a Sceliphron spirifex.]]
[[File:Mediterranean house gecko ambush.jpg|thumb|A [[Mediterranean house gecko]] in ambush on a nest of a Sceliphron spirifex.]]
[[File:SceliphronSpirifexOffspring.jpg|thumb|A Sceliphron spirifex offspring emerges out of the nest.]]


'''''Sceliphron spirifex''''' is a [[species]] of [[Sphecidae|sphecid wasp]]. It has a medium-sized body ({{convert|17|-|27|mm|1|disp=or}}), which is dull black with a long, yellow [[petiole (insect)|petiole]] (waist). The legs are black with yellow bands, the [[antenna (biology)|antennae]] are black and the [[insect wing|wings]] are clear.
'''''Sceliphron spirifex''''' is a [[species]] of [[Sphecidae|sphecid wasp]]. It has a medium-sized body ({{convert|17|-|27|mm|1|disp=or}}), which is dull black with a long, yellow [[petiole (insect)|petiole]] (waist). The legs are black with yellow bands, the [[antenna (biology)|antennae]] are black and the [[insect wing|wings]] are clear.



Revision as of 19:23, 3 November 2020

Sceliphron spirifex
S. spirifex in Tanzania
Scientific classification
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S. spirifex
Binomial name
Sceliphron spirifex
Synonyms [1]
  • Sphex spirifex Linnaeus, 1758
  • Pelopaeus spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Sphex aegyptius Linnaeus, 1758
  • Sphex flavipes Christ, 1791
  • Sceliphron aegyptiacum Klug, 1801
A Mediterranean house gecko in ambush on a nest of a Sceliphron spirifex.
A Sceliphron spirifex offspring emerges out of the nest.


Sceliphron spirifex is a species of sphecid wasp. It has a medium-sized body (17–27 millimetres or 0.7–1.1 inches), which is dull black with a long, yellow petiole (waist). The legs are black with yellow bands, the antennae are black and the wings are clear.

Females build large multi-celled mud nests attached to cliffs, rocks, tree trunks, bridges and buildings. The cells are mass-provisioned with several spiders and sealed with mud.

S. spirifex lives in diverse habitats across Africa and Southern Europe, but is strongly associated with buildings and other man-made structures.

References

  1. ^ Anonymous (January 19, 2006). "Sceliphron" (PDF).