First record of the Asian mud-dauber wasp Sceliphron curvatum (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in Cyprus, including an identification key and notes on its possible impacts

Sphecidae sensu lato currently includes more than 10,000 species of which 34 belong to the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801. In Europe and the Mediterranean Basin, three out of eight species of Sceliphron are alien to the region, including the Asian S. curvatum (Smith, 1870) and S. deforme (Smith, 1856) as well as the Nearctic S. caementarium (Drury, 1773). Up-to-date, only three species of Sceliphron have been reported for Cyprus, S. destillatorium, S. madraspatanum tubifex and S. spirifex , being native to the island. In this publication, S. curvatum is reported for the first time as a new alien mud-dauber to the island. Specimens were first observed in 2020 at Xyliatos (Nicosia) and reared from nests collected in 2023 upon annual surveys. In addition, nests of both S. curvatum and S. spirifex co-existing at the site were opened providing preliminary data on spider prey. A literature investigation compared with the national list of spiders in Cyprus provides an insight into potential spider prey while a dichotomous identification key, including alien S. caementarium and S. deforme yet to be reported from the island, is provided. The number of Sceliphron species known from Cyprus is raised to four. More research is necessary to elucidate the biotic interactions of Sceliphron in Cyprus, the invasiveness and the further spread of S. curvatum on the island.