Cyphononyx optimus

Cyphononyx optimus
Cyphononyx optimus from South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Pompilidae
Genus:	Cyphononyx
Species:	C. optimus
Binomial name
Cyphononyx optimus (Smith, 1855)
Synonyms
Cyphononyx abyssinica Gribodo, 1879 Cyphononyx lynx Lucas, 1897 Pompilus momboensis Cameron Pompilus optimus Smith, 1855 Priocnemis lynx Lucas Priocnemis optimis Smith Salius lynx Lucas Salius melanoceras Cameron, 1910 Salius momboensis Cameron, 1910 Salius optimus (Smith) ù Salius schoenlandi Cameron, 1905 Salius spilostomus Cameron, 1905 [1]

Cyphononyx optimus is a species of spider wasps in the family Pompilidae. ^[1]

Description

C. optimus can reach a total length of about 50 mm (2.0 in). The body length of females (head to tip of abdomen) is 19-26 mm, and of males, 14-18 mm. ^[2] has black antennae, thorax and abdomen. The head is mostly black. (The labrum and parts of the mandibles and clypeus are dark red, as are thin lines adjacent to the eyes.) The legs, are ferruginous (yellowish to red) excepting the coxae, trochanters and base of the femora, which are black. The wings are black, too, with bluish reflections. ^{[3] [2]}

Females of this genus hunt and paralyse large spiders, mainly Palystes species. ^{[4] [3]}

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found in subtropical forests, savanna, and bushveld of Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. ^{[1] [4] [3]} It is fairly common in areas with abundant rainfall (average annual rainfall of over 750 mm). ^[2]

Gallery

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  Cyphononyx optimus from Ethiopia
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References

1. Catalogue of life
2. Arnold, G. 1932. The Psammocharidae of the Ethiopian region. Part I. Subfamily Pepsinae. Annals of the Transvaal Museum 14: 298-300. PDF
3. Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths, Alan Weaving Field Guide to Insects of South Africa
4. Wasp Web Archived 2015-02-24 at the Wayback Machine