Distribution and a New Locality Record of the Invasive Asian Wasp, Sceliphron curvatum (F. Smith, 1870) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in Europe and Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the distribution of Sceliphron curvatum F. Smith, 1870 (Hymenoptera: Apocrita, Sphecidae) has been reported in Eroupe and Turkey. S. curvatum is an invasive species. Rapidly spreading to Europe from Southeast Asia. It is distributed throughout Europe today. There are also records from transoceanic America continent. For anthropophilic S. curvatum species, the first record was made from Turkey, in 2015. In this study, a new locality record was made for this species from the province of Ordu, which is in Central Black Sea Region on the coast of South Black Sea. This wasp species, which has very important role in the functioning of ecosystem, just like other bees, is not aggressive and it does not harm people.