Red and black spider wasp

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Red and black spider wasp
The red and black spider wasp (Arachnospila) belongs to the wasps (Pompilidae). About three abdominal segments in front are colored red-orange.

The red and black spider wasp (Arachnospila) belongs to the wasps (Pompilidae). About three abdominal segments in front are colored red-orange.

Systematics
Order : Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera)
Superfamily : Vespoidea
Family : Wasps (Pompilidae)
Subfamily : Pompilinae
Genre : Arachnospila
Type : Red and black spider wasp
Scientific name
Arachnospila anceps
( Wesmael , 1851)

The red-black spider wasp ( Arachnospila anceps ) is a hymenoptera from the family of the wasps (Pompilidae). The name spider wasp comes from the behavior of the wasps to prey on spiders as food for their brood.

features

The animals reach a body length of 6 to 11 millimeters (females) or 4.5 to 7 millimeters (males). The species can be confused with several species of its genus and is difficult to identify. The head and the propodeum of the females are covered with medium-long comb spines, their hips ( coxae ) are frosted with gray. The male can be identified by his anal sternite.

Occurrence

The species occurs from Europe to Mongolia . It colonizes various open habitats, including in the settlement area. The animals may also fly in two generations from early May to early October. The species is widespread in Central Europe.

Way of life

The red and black spider wasp creates its nests in the ground in different substrates. With the help of her mandibles she digs holes up to five centimeters deep, into which she then pulls a captured spider backwards. The brood is supplied with spiders of various species, mainly wolf spiders and crab spiders . It happens that several females create their nests in close proximity (aggregation). The species is parasitized by the cuckoo wasp Evagetes crassicornis .

Systematics

The red and black spider wasp belongs to the Pompilini tribe within the subfamily Pompilinae. Within the genus Arachnospila it is counted to the subgenus Ammosphex .

supporting documents

literature

  • Rolf Witt: Wasps. Observe, determine. Naturbuch-Verlag, Augsburg 1998 ISBN 3-89440-243-1 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Arachnospila at Nature Conservation Imaging

Web links