Paralastor de Saussure, 1856

Carpenter, James M. & Brown, Graham R., 2021, Catalogue of the Australian Eumeninae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Zootaxa 4919 (1), pp. 1-68 : 37

Genus Paralastor de Saussure

Paralastor de Saussure 1856: 328 , division of subgenus Alastor of genus Alastor Lepeletier ; declared available from date of publication by Opinion 893.

Type species: Alastor tuberculatus de Saussure 1853 , by subsequent designation of van der Vecht 1967: 31; confirmed by Opinion 893.

Alastoroides de Saussure 1856: 327 , subgenus of Alastor Lepeletier.

Type species: Alastor clotho Lepeletier 1841 , by subsequent designation of Ashmead 1902: 210.

Paralastoroides de Saussure 1856: 328 , division of subgenus Alastoroides de Saussure of genus Alastor Lepeletier ; declared available from date of publication by Opinion 893.

Type species: Alastor clotho Lepeletier 1841 , by monotypy.

Taxonomy: Zavattari 1912: 255 (Alasteroides [!]).— Perkins 1914a: 563–621 (genus; revision).—van der Vecht 1967: 28, 31, 32 (proposal to place on Official Lists).— ICZN 1970, Opinion 893: 187, 188, 189 (placed on Official Lists).— Cardale 1985: 182–197 (cat.).—van der Vecht & Carpenter 1990: 8 (syns.: Alastoroides de Saussure , Paralastoroides de Saussure ).

Distribution: Primarily Australia, with a few species in New Guinea, the Moluccas, and Oceania.

Ethology: Nests are constructed in burrows dug by the wasp, in pre-existing cavities or clusters of mud cells on the substrate, with a mud entrance funnel. Prey: usually caterpillars, with one species reported to provision with weevil larvae. Mating occurs at water sources.