Ceropales maculata fraterna Smith, 1855

Kurczewski, Frank E. & West, Rick C., 2023, Evaluation of North American spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) common names, Insecta Mundi 2023 (989), pp. 1-8 : 5

Ceropales maculata fraterna Smith (Spotted cuckoo spider wasp)

Spot is defined as “a small round mark differing in color from the surface around it.” Spotted cuckoo spider wasp is clearly a misnomer for this relatively small black species with numerous yellow stripes and few yellow spots on its body ( Townes 1957; Fig. 4 ). “Striped cuckoo spider wasp” might be a more appropriate name for C. maculata fraterna . At any rate, there are dozens of spotted or striped parasitic pompilid species in the tribe Ceropalini , thus nullifying the exclusive use of spotted or striped cuckoo spider wasp for Ceropales maculata fraterna .

Figures

Figures 1–6.Habitus photos of North American Pompilidae. 1) Anoplius semicinctus female, Marlboro, Windham County, VT, USA. Photograph © Tom Murray. 2) Caliadurgus fasciatellus female, Rockville, Hanover County, VA, USA. Photograph © Louise Woodrich. 3) Ceropales bipunctata bipunctata female, Hatfield, Hampshire County, MA, USA. Photograph © Sloan Tomlinson. 4) Ceropales maculata fraterna female, Groton, Middlesex County, MA, USA. Photograph © Tom Murray. 5) Entypus fulvicornis male, Fiddler’s Creek Preserve, Mercer County, Titusville, NJ, USA. Photograph © Seth Ausubel. 6) Entypus unifasciatus cressoni female, Garland, Dallas County, TX, USA. Photograph © Tracey Fandre.