Arachnospila anceps

The red-black spider wasp ( Arachnospila anceps ) is a Hymenoptera of the family of Wegwespen ( Pompilidae ). The term wasp spiders stems from the behavior of the Wegwespen to prey on spiders as food for their brood.

Features

The animals reach a body length of 6-11 mm (females ) or 4.5 to 7 millimeters (male). The type is equipped with several types of their kind to be confused and difficult to determine. The head and propodeum of the females are covered with medium length comb spines, their hips ( coxae ) are frosted gray. The male can be determined by its Analsternits.

Occurrence

The species occurs from Europe prior to Mongolia. They settled various open habitats, even in urban areas. The animals may also fly in two generations from early May to early October. The species is found widespread in Central Europe.

Way of life

The red-black spider wasp lays its nests in the soil in different substrates. She digs through their mandibles up to five centimeters deep holes into which they then a captured spider pulls backwards. The brood is supplied with spiders of different kinds, mainly wolf spiders and crab spiders. It happens that several females lay their nests in close proximity to invest ( aggregation). The species is parasitized by the cuckoo wasp Evagetes crassicornis.

System

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

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