Sighting 4398645
Aeolothynnus sp. (genus)
5 A flower wasp at Tennent, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Aeolothynnus sp. (genus) | Amata | 20 Nov 2021 | |
| Thynninae (subfamily) | David | 10 Oct 2021 |
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2 comments
28 Nov 2021
Is anyone with expertise able to provide more info on the relationship between this wasp and this orchid? From the little reading I've done, there is an attraction for the male wasp to odours that mimic pheromones released by female wasps to attract the males for mating purposes. Seems like a very specific relationship between plant and insect here, well captured by the images in this sighting.
1 Dec 2021
That about sums it up. The labellum calli vaguely resemble a female wasp which the male tries to mate with. Probably has a higher success rate with males that might not yet have encountered a female. The labellum calli might also stimulate the male wasp so it is less likely to leave, but I am not entirely sure. The benefit of using sexual deception is that the plant doesn't have to waste resources on producing a sugary nectar. Additionally, when the pollinator species visits the plants, there is a high pollination success rate as the wasps position themselves effectively to remove and deposit the pollinia (a sack of pollen) at the right location on the flowers.
Location information
- Coordinates 148.908283-35.521557
- Maps Namadgi National Park
- Places Tennent, ACT
Sighting information
- 4 - 15 Abundance
- 10 Oct 2021 09:24 AM Recorded on
- David Recorded by
- Chiloglottis orchid. A couple of flowering plants found in the vicinity. Pollen visible on the backs of several of the wasps. Associated plant
- 12mm to 25mm Animal size
Collections
- Featured David Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Aeolothynnus sp. (genus) Flower wasps (Scoliidae & Tiphiidae) Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) Insects
Species information
- Aeolothynnus sp. (genus) Scientific name
- A flower wasp Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 793m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description