Year-to-year variation of prey utilization by Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) at two sites in North Carolina

Cerceris fumipennis Say is a solitary, ground-nesting wasp that preys exclusively on beetles in the family Buprestidae, including the invasive insect pest, emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire).  Understanding patterns of C. fumipennis prey collection over time may improve the use of the wasp as a biosurveillance tool for locating pest Buprestidae of economic concern.  Here we report on variation in prey utilization by C. fumipennis at two sites in North Carolina over a four year period.  A total of 466 beetles were collected from the wasps from 2010-2013; these comprise 35 species, four new state records, six new prey records, and three native pests.  Changes in prey utilization from year to year at both sites suggest the importance of continued biosurveillance at sites with known wasp aggregations as EAB and other invasive pests spread into and throughout North Carolina.