Rhynchium brunneum (Fabricius, 1773)

Kolosova, Yulia S., Potapov, Grigory S., Spitsyna, Elizaveta A., Spitsyn, Vitaly M. & Bolotov, Ivan N., 2022, Are invasive hymenopteran species replacing native mud dauber wasp-associated taxa on the Seychelles Archipelago?, Ecologica Montenegrina 50, pp. 1-16 : 15

Rhynchium brunneum (Fabricius, 1773)

= Rhynchium brunneum (Fabricius, 1773) ; Madl et al. (1996): 831; Gusenleitner & Madl (2013): 339.

Samples from Sceliphron fuscum nests examined: MAHÉ: Anse Petite Marie- Louise, 4.7870°S, 55.5272°E, palm-cinnamon forest, under rocky shelter, 25–27.ii.2016, 5 specimens reared from preimaginal stages, Bolotov leg. ; PRASLIN: Anse Possession , 4.3116°S, 55.7245°E, beach crest, 22.ii.2016, 3 specimens reared from preimaginal stages, Bolotov leg.

Additional samples examined: PRASLIN: Anse Possession , near Sea View Lodge, 4.3115°S, 55.7291°E, 5 m altitude, coastal lowland, garden, 4–22.i.2013, 6♀, Bolotov leg. ; MAHÉ: Anse Forbans , 4.7815°S, 55.5229°E, coastal garden, 6–7.i.2020, 1♀, Bolotov leg.

Distribution: Native to the Oriental Region (Gusenleitner and Madl 2013). In Seychelles, it is known to occur on Mahé, Praslin, Silhouette, Cerf, and Round (Gusenleitner & Madl 2013).

Comments: Currently, it is an abundant invasive species in Seychelles (Gusenleitner & Madl 2013; this study) that was introduced sometime before 1991 (Madl et al. 1996). This wasp collects Lepidoptera larvae for offspring provisioning (Dang & Nguyen 2019; this study).

FAMILY CHRYSIDIDAE LATREILLE, 1802