Double Post: Poecilopompilus algidus and P. interruptus

The most fascinating family of wasps, in my opinion, is Pompilidae; that is, the spider wasps. As Eric R. Eaton put it in the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, "Spider wasps (family Pompilidae) are solitary, high-strung hunters".  In this post, I would like to focus on one genus: Poecilopompilus. This is one of the prettier genera, and P. interruptus mimics paper wasps. 

Poecilopompilus interruptus (Interrupted Spider Wasp):

pigsonthewing, Wikimedia Commons

Poecilopompilus algidus (Frigid Spider Wasp):
Xsanka, Wikimedia Commons

Poecilopompilus are one of the larger genera of spider wasps in the eastern United States. They are, as the pictures above make evident, variable between species. The adult females, much like any other spider wasp, hunt large wolf spiders. They will dig a burrow after prey capture. During nest excavation, they cache the prey nearby, and it is then at risk of being parasitized. The wasps attempt to combat this by checking on the prey often. The burrow is not deep, but rather shallow. The spider to egg ratio is 1;1. 

I mentioned above how P. interruptus mimics spider wasps. Besides the coloration, there is one more interesting feature. It is not physical, but instead a habit. They raise their wings when startled, and do not carry out tasks in the frantic manner of other spider wasps. These wasps do visit flowers, like Goldenrods (genus Solidago). 

Similar Species:
Polistes genus paper wasps [P. interruptus]
Anoplius americanus [P. algidus] 
 







      

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