| Poecilopompilus algidus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Pompilidae |
| Genus: | Poecilopompilus |
| Species: | P. algidus |
| Binomial name | |
| Poecilopompilus algidus | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Poecilopompilus algidus is a species of spider wasp which is widespread in the Americas.
P. algidus is 13–28 mm in length with females usually larger than males and in some areas it is a mainly black wasp with a red spot on the metasoma. [2] However, the wasps of the genus Poecilopompilus may be Müllerian mimics of other wasps and that the variation in appearance of P.algidus over its range is due to it mimicking other sympatric wasps with painful stings, for example it resembles the paper wasps in the genus Polistes in the south, and thus be difficult to distinguish from its congener Poecilopompilus interruptus , but in the northern part of its range, it mimics the spider wasps of the genus Anoplius . [3] To identify the two species, the observer needs to examine the spines on the front tarsi of females and the inner margin of the eyes, P. algidus females have 3 strong spines and the species shows convergent inner eye margins, while P. interruptus shows four weak spines on the front tarsi in females and parallel inner eye margins. [3]
There are 5 recognised subspecies [1]
From the Ontario south through the United States of America, Mexico and Central America to Argentina. [1] [4]
Prefers sandy areas where it is fossorial, but can be found in well vegetated areas. [2]
In the northern part of its range it is an univoltine mid-summer to late autumn species, a bit in the warmer parts of its range it is probably multivoltine. [2]
Male specimens have been captured at flowers of Baccharis spp, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus , Heracleum lanatum and Melilotus albus while females have also been taken at the flowers of Melilotus . [5]
Females provision the burrows with spiders of the family Araneidae. [2] In São Paulo State, Brazil females of P.a. fervidus were observed while breeding in a sandy bank among a plantation of Eucalyptus. The wasps hunted spiders in the understorey, these wasps are regarded as a specialist hunter of orb web spiders, in the family Araneidae. The wasps were observed to switch from Nephila clavipes in July to Parawixia sp., Argiope argentata and Araneus sp. as the year progressed. [6]
Observations of the nominate subspecies in southern Florida showed that the female wasps hunted in the late afternoon and that they actively hunted within the scrub and trees at heights of between 3m and 20m. The wasps hunted by actively walking on the surface of the vegetation, intermittently flicking their wings, but stayed in the outer layers of leaves and did not enter into deeper cover. The only prey observed as an adult female Eriophora ravilla which the wasp had placed in vegetation 8 cm above the ground, while the wasp excavated a burrow 1.2 m away. The burrow was excavated in bare sand among dried pine needles, the wasp used her mandibles to break the crust on the surface of the sand, and then used her forelimbs to excavate the looser sand, which was removed by the wasp backing out to a distance of 10–13 cm. Her digging activities got faster as she neared completion of the burrow, occasionally interrupting her efforts to inspect and move the prey. To move the prey, it was dragged backwards over the ground and under the vegetation while the wasp held it by the base of the hind femur. Before placing the spider in the nest she carried out further excavation and appeared to line the nest with dried pine needles which she carried into the burrow, then the spider was grabbed by its chelicerae and dragged into the burrow. The wasp then backfilled the burrow with loose sand using its forelegs and once the burrow was filled it appeared to tamp the sand down with its abdomen before place pine needles over the now buried nest. [7]
Wasps in the family Pompilidae are commonly called spider wasps, spider-hunting wasps, or pompilid wasps. The family is cosmopolitan, with some 5,000 species in six subfamilies. Nearly all species are solitary, and most capture and paralyze prey, though members of the subfamily Ceropalinae are kleptoparasites of other pompilids, or ectoparasitoids of living spiders.
Episyron is a genus of wasps in the family Pompilidae which prey on spiders. Nine species are found in Europe.
Episyron rufipes, the red-legged spider wasp, is a red and black or completely black spider-hunting wasp.
Episyron quinquenotatus, the white-trimmed black wasp, is a North American species of pompilid spider hunting wasp.
Pompilus cinereus, the leaden spider wasp is the most widespread species of the Pompilus spider wasps, and throughout a large proportion of its wide distribution is the only species of Pompilus. It is the type species of the genus Pompilus and therefore of the family Pompilidae.
Dipogon bifasciatus is a spider wasp from the family Pompilidae.
Auplopus carbonarius is a spider wasp of the family Pompilidae. Uniquely among the British group it constructs a nest of barrel-shaped cells in which spiders are stored and the larvae develop.
Anoplius nigerrimus is one of the most common spider wasps, or pompilids, in Europe. They are mostly black and the females are 6–8 mm long while males measure 5–8 mm. This species may be distinguished from the related Anoplius concinnus and Anoplius caviventris by the 20 setae, or hairs, on the forehead rather than 60 or 45.
Priocnemis monachus is a large spider wasp from New Zealand where it is known as the "black hunting wasp". It is the largest pompilid in New Zealand.
Sphictostethus nitidus, the golden hunter wasp or red spider wasp, is a species of pepsid spider wasp endemic to New Zealand.
Agenioideus cinctellus is a spider wasp of the subfamily Pompilinae with a Palearctic distribution.
Anoplius viaticus, commonly known as the black-banded spider wasp, is a species of spider wasp. These wasps are known as spider wasps because the females capture spiders to provide their offspring with food. The paralysed spider is cached in a burrow, the wasp lays an egg on it, and when this hatches, the developing wasp larva consumes the spider. This species is found in sandy heathland across most of Europe.
Anoplius infuscatus is a species of spider wasp found mainly in Eurasia.
Anoplius concinnus is a widespread Eurasian species of spider wasp.
Tachypompilus analis, the red-tailed spider wasp is a species of spider wasp found in most of tropical and subtropical Asia, north to Japan. These spider wasps often hunt huntsman spiders.
Tachypompilus ferrugineus, the rusty spider wasp, red-tailed spider hunter, or sometimes red-tailed spider wasp is a species of spider wasp from the Americas. It preys mainly on wandering spiders, especially wolf spiders.
Poecilopompilus is a fossorial genus of the family Pomplidae found in the New World. The main prey of these wasps are spiders of the family Araneidae.
Poecilopompilus interruptus is a species of New World spider wasps.
Pepsis grossa is a very large species of pepsine spider wasp from the southern part of North America, south to northern South America. It preys on tarantula spiders, giving rise to the name tarantula hawk for the wasps in the genus Pepsis and the related Hemipepsis. Only the females hunt, so only they are capable of delivering a sting, which is considered the second most painful of any insect sting; scoring 4.0 on the Schmidt sting pain index compared to the bullet ant's 4.0+. It is the state insect of New Mexico. The colour morphs are the xanthic orange-winged form and the melanic black winged form. In northern South America, a third form, known as "lygamorphic", has a dark base to the wings which have dark amber median patches and a pale tip.
Allochares azureus is a species of spider wasp from the family Pompilidae, it is the only member of the monotypic genus Allochares. It occurs in the southern part of North America and is a specialist parasitoid of the Southern house spider.