Prionyx

{{Short description|Genus of wasps}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Prionyx P1330136a.jpg

| taxon = Prionyx

| authority = Vander Linden, 1827

| type_species = Prionyx kirbii

| type_species_authority = Vander Linden, 1827{{cite journal | author = Jeong-Kyu Kim | year = 2014 | title = Annotated catalog of the series Spheciformes (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) from the Korean Peninsula | doi = 10.1016/j.japb.2014.10.003| journal = Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity | volume = 7 | issue = 4 | pages = 415–456| doi-access = free }}

| synonyms = {{Taxon list

| 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

}}

| synonyms_ref =

}}

thumb

thumb

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

Behavior

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.

Etymology

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

These species belong to the genus Prionyx:

{{Div col|colwidth=29em}}

{{Div col end}}

Data sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net WPC = Wojciech J. Pulawski's [https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/entomology/entomology_resources/hymenoptera/sphecidae/genera/Prionyx.pdf Catalog] (Accessed March, 2025, but not in ITIS etc using same older source from 2019)

  • Note: As a proposed replacement name for preoccupied Sphex chilensis Spinola, 1851, as used later by various authors, but in several sources as e.g. Prionyx chilensis (Spinola, 1851), e.g. after Amarante, 2002)

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Cite web| title=Prionyx Report

| url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=768284

| website=Integrated Taxonomic Information System

| accessdate=2018-04-23

}}

{{Cite web| title=Browse Prionyx

| url=http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/browse/tree/id/4cbb7dd5f8c3b617beea448339cf34bd

| website=Catalogue of Life

| accessdate=2018-04-23

}}

{{Cite web| title=Prionyx

| url=https://www.gbif.org/species/1346547

| website=GBIF

| accessdate=2018-04-23

}}

{{Cite web| title=Prionyx Genus Information

| url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/13352

| website=BugGuide.net

| accessdate=2018-04-23

}}

}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q540267}}

Category:Sphecidae

Category:Apoidea genera

Category:Taxa named by Pierre Léonard Vander Linden