Episyron

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Episyron
Episyron rufipes (Pompilidae sp.), Texel, the Netherlands.jpg
Episyron rufipes
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Pompilidae
Tribe: Episyronini
Genus: Episyron
Schioedte, 1837
Type species
Sphex rufipes
Linnaeus, 1758 [1]

Episyron is a genus of wasps in the family Pompilidae which prey on spiders. Nine species are found in Europe. [2]

Contents

Features

Episyron wasps are medium to large in size. The head and thorax have long, dark clustered hair with spotted abdomens.

Habits

These wasps occur in open sandy habitats where the females can burrow easily to create nests. They prey on spiders of the families Araneidae, Lycosidae and Tetragnathidae. [2]

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus Episyron: [3] [4]

References

  1. V.S.L. Pate (1946). "The Generic Names of the Spider Wasps (Psammocharidae olim Pompilidae) and Their Type Species (Hymenoptera: Aculeata)". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 72 (3): 65–137. JSTOR   25077544.
  2. 1 2 Bogdan Wiśniowski: Spider-hunting wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) of Poland. Ojców National Park, Ojców 2009, ISBN   83-60337-15-4 {{isbn}}: ignored ISBN errors (link).
  3. "Global Names Index".
  4. "Classification and checklist of Afrotropical Pompilidae". Archived from the original on 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-03-18.