Biological Notes on Two Species of Sericophorus From Australia (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Sericophor.us is a genus of robust, often iridescent bee-like wasps belonging to the larrine tribe Miscophini.The genus is endemic to Australia and Tasmania and possibly extends into New Guinea, where one male has been taken (.A_. S. Menke, pers.comm.).Riek (I97o) reports I4 species trorn Australia.Males a.re unusual in that the antennae typically .consist of only I2 segments instead of the I3 found in most male sphecid wasps.The only previous biological observations on members of this genus are those by Rayment (I955a, b).His papers include mis- cellaneous notes on at least six species occurring in Victoria, Western Australia, and New South Wales, and present the main beha.vioralteatures of the genus.Unfortunately, the rambling conversational style adopted by Rayment makes it difficult to sort out the facts in his reports, and indeed, it is often unclear as to which species his discussions refer.Numerous fragmentary observations, such.as the occurrence of two adults in the same nest of S. sydneyi Rayment (I955b, pp.75-76) and S. victoriensis Rayrnent (955a, p. I37, presumed subterranean mating in S. viridis roddi Rayrnent (I955b, P. 74), and apparent territoriality in S. sydneyi females (I955b, p. 75) were not confirmed in the present very incomplete studies.We did, however, confirm two unusual behavior patterns reported by Rayment: hunting in the early morning hours and capture of only male flies.Rayment found this to be true in S. teliferopodus Rayment, and we found it to be the case in S. viridis Saussure.Our observations concern two forms not previously studied, S. viridis Saussure and S. relucens Smith.Included also is the first detailed larval description for the genus, and notes on a parasitic nyssonine wasp, z/canthotethus portlandensis (Rayment).8ericophorus viridis Saussure With one exception, all of our notes on 8. viridis were made on