Zyzzyx

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zyzzyx
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Apoidea
Family: Crabronidae
Subfamily: Bembicinae
Genus: Zyzzyx
Pate, 1937
Species: Z. chilensis
Binomial name
Zyzzyx chilensis
Eschscholz, 1822

Zyzzyx is a monospecific genus of sand wasp, containing a brightly-colored, medium-sized species, Z. chilensis, named after the sound they make while flying. They were first studied in detail by H. Janvier (a.k.a. Claude-Joseph) in 1928, more than 100 years after they were first described.

They are primarily predators on flies, but have been observed to consume skippers.

[edit] References

  • Genise, J.F., "Estudios sobre el comportamiento de nidificación de Bembicini neotropicales VI. Zyzzyx chilensis (Eschscholz) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)" Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argentina 41: 289-298 (1982)
  • Howard E. Evans, "A Review of Prey Choice in Bembicine Sand Wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)" Neotropical Entomology 31(1): 001-011 (2002) (PDF at [1])

[edit] External links