Arachnospila anceps

Arachnospila anceps is one of the more common spider wasps of western Europe.

Arachnospila anceps
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Pompilidae
Genus:	Arachnospila
Species:	A. anceps
Binomial name
Arachnospila anceps (Wesmael, 1851)
Synonyms
Pompilus anceps Pompilus krombachi Pompilus cyrnus Pompilus expletus Pompilus navus Pompilus peninsulanus Pompilus radiosus Pompilus saxaeus Arachnospila serica Pompilus unguicularis Sphex vagus[1]

Description

A. anceps is a medium-sized, black and red spider wasp.

Distribution

This species is found in northern and central Europe, including most of Britain and Ireland, and in Asia east to Mongolia.^[2]

Biology

The flight period is May to September and the species is probably univoltine. A wide range of spiders are taken as prey; the families Lycosidae, Clubionidae and Thomisidae have been recorded and Gnaphosidae and Agelenidae are also possible prey.^[2] The spider is paralysed before being dragged backwards^[3] to the nest site where it is hidden on a plant while the burrow is rapidly excavated. It occurs in a variety of habitats and on most soils with the possible exception of heavy clay soils.^[2] There are no records of which flowers are visited by A. anceps for nectar.^[2]