Dipogon subintermedius

Identification

Like D. bifasciatus this is an all black species with bifasciated wings but the female has shorter anennae than D. bifasciatus.

Distribution

From southern Great Britain north with an isolated population in the central Highlands of Scotland, although the species has not been recorded in Ireland, through central and eastern Europe east to Mongolia. It is the commonest of the three species of Dipogon found in Britain.

Habitat

Woodland and hedgerows where there is dead wood to provide breeding sites.

Biology

In Britain this wasp flies from June to September. The only recorded prey in Britain is a species of spider Segestria senoculata from the family Segestriidae but elsewhere spiders of the genus Clubiona (Clubionidae) have been recorded as prey. The spider is carried to the wasp's nest by its spinnerets and is prey is then malaxated. which may be a process by which the wasp obtains proteins necessary to produce eggs; certainly wasps of the genus Dipogon do not appear to visit flowers to obtain nectar.

The nest is usually constructed in an existing cavity, normally in wood and old beetle excavations are often used, although cavities in masonry will also be utilized. The cavity is normally sealed with spider silk, applied using the maxillary bristles which give the generic name to these wasps. There have been records of two larvae of D. subintermedius on a single specimen of Segestria senoculata