Prionyx is a genus of wasps in the family Sphecidae. They are known to hunt and feed on grasshoppers.

Prionyx
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Subfamily: Sphecinae
Genus: Prionyx
Vander Linden, 1827
Type species
Prionyx kirbii
Vander Linden, 1827[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Calosphex Kohl, 1890
  • Enodia Dahlbom, 1843
  • Gastrosphaeria A. Costa, 1858
  • Harpactopus F. Smith, 1856
  • Neosphex Reed, 1894
  • Parasphex F. Smith, 1856
  • Priononyx Dahlbom, 1843
  • Pseudosphex Taschenberg, 1869

Behavior

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Prior to laying their eggs the female Prionyx stings a grasshopper causing paralysis. She will then bury the grasshopper in a burrow she has excavated, lay an egg on the body, and then seal the burrow. When the egg develops it feeds on the grasshopper until it has matured, and then pupates.

Name Origin

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The name Prionyx comes from the Greek words "Prion" (Saw) and "Onyx/Onychus" (Claw), which refers to the saw-like endings on the creature's legs.

Species

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These 59 species belong to the genus Prionyx:

Data sources: i = ITIS,[2] c = Catalogue of Life,[3] g = GBIF,[4] b = Bugguide.net[5]

References

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  1. ^ Jeong-Kyu Kim (2014). "Annotated catalog of the series Spheciformes (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) from the Korean Peninsula". Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 7 (4): 415–456. doi:10.1016/j.japb.2014.10.003.
  2. ^ a b "Prionyx Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  3. ^ "Browse Prionyx". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  4. ^ "Prionyx". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  5. ^ "Prionyx Genus Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-23.