Cerceris
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 Cerceris
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over 1000 worldwide |
The genus Cerceris of the subfamilly Philanthinae is in the family Crabronidae. This is the largest genus in the family, with over 1000 described species and numerous more undescribed. The genus consists of solitary, predatory wasps, most of which prey on beetles. The adult females dig tunnels in the ground for nesting.
As with all other sphecoid wasps, the larvae are carnivorous; females hunt for prey on which to lays their eggs, supplying the larvae with paralyzed, living prey when they emerge.
They are notable in that the faces of the females are frequently modified with unusual projections on the clypeus and the clypeal margin; these can vary from simple conical bulges to elongated curving "horns". Paralyzed prey are carried in the females' mandibles, which are somewhat elongated and tend to have prominent teeth, often with species-specific shapes. The abdominal segments are also constricted very strongly at the junctures, giving the abdomen a somewhat corrugated, accordion-like appearance.
