Africa Wild

Wow, ExFmem

I found some info on the Notonurus, which has travelled through several genera until it arrived again in its genus Notonurus.

I will post this to our book.

I don't find any good info on the other mayflies, so you can just add them to our books, ExFmem?


And then we can have some more fun here with hopefully something that poor mortals are able to ID


I have found some waspies ExFmem had posted on the forum and we can do these ones

ExFmem wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2017 9:47 pm A sampling of the insects found around the camp grounds (Lower Sabie and Tamboti)

Sand Wasp making its home in the wood stair post at Tamboti

viewtopic.php?p=355055#p355055


I am almost certain that this wasp is a cricket hunter Isodontia longiventris

Can you have a look here and check if you agree:

http://www.waspweb.org/Apoidea/Sphecida ... entris.htm

They are nonfossorial sphecids, nesting in natural cavities such as old bee holes, hollow branches and stems, but also in crevices between stones and provision their offspring with ensiferan Orthoptera, usually tree crickets (Gryllidae) and katydids (Tettigoniidae).

This female is done and now busy plugging the entrance with her selfmade plug.

Looks spot on to me!

I wonder why Picker et al, as well as Gess and Gess (SANBI Biodiversity Series on "Wasps and Bees in Southern Africa" 2014) state that there are 3 Isodontia sp. in SAfrica, not mentioning I. longiventris at all ? Perhaps discovered there more recently than 2014?

Anyway, thanks for your perseverance. Here are a few more shots of the wasp:

Great shots

Very cool photos, ExFmem!

And it's quite an interesting species. I have been reading a bit last night about Isodondia, how the build the nest and how they capture prey.


Ja, the field guide is always not up to date, that's why I don't trust this book and always try to find some other source of info.

Klipspringer wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2020 6:50 pm Very cool photos, ExFmem!

And it's quite an interesting species. I have been reading a bit last night about Isodondia, how the build the nest and how they capture prey.


Ja, the field guide is always not up to date, that's why I don't trust this book and always try to find some other source of info.

Yes, they are indeed very interesting - the aforementioned SANBI series has quite a bit of info. on the other 3 species, including pics of the layering of the interior of their nests, which I'm sure you've seen, but might be worth including in the write-up on the Genus in general.

Again, for all your contributions here.