Abispa splendida

Abispa splendida (also known as the large mud-nesting wasp or velvety black and yellow)^[3] is a species of wasp in the Vespidae family.^[4]

Abispa splendida
Abispa splendida from New Guinea. Museum specimen
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Vespidae
Genus:	Abispa
Species:	A. splendida
Binomial name
Abispa splendida (Guérin, 1838)
Synonyms[1][2]
Odynerus splendidus Guerin, 1838 Abispa maculicollis Cameron, 1911 Abispa odyneroides Perkins, 1912

This species was first described as Odynerus splendidus by Guérin in 1838.^[2]

Subspecies

• Abispa splendida australis (Smith, 1857)
• Abispa splendida maculicollis Cameron, 1911
• Abispa splendida odyneroides Perkins, 1912
• Abispa splendida splendida (Guérin, 1838)^[5]

Description

Abispa splendida can reach a length of about 26 millimetres (1.0 in), with a forewings span of about 42 millimetres (1.7 in). Body is black and orange-yellow coloured. Thorax is black with yellow shoulders. Head, antenna and legs are yellow. The abdomen shows yellow and black segments. Wings are orange.^[6][7][8]

Illustration of Abispa splendida

Behavior

These wasps build their mud nest under rocks or inside holes in trees. Larvae pupate in their pot. The golden yellow pupa reach a length of about 30 millimetres (1.2 in). The adults emerge from the nest after three months.^[8][9]

Distribution

This species can be found in Australia and Indonesia.^[8]