Ceropales maculata

Ceropales maculata is a kleptoparasitic spider wasp, belonging to the family Pompilidae. this species is found in the Holarctic region.^[2][3]

Ceropales maculata
Ceropales maculata fraterna
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Pompilidae
Genus:	Ceropales
Species:	C. maculata
Binomial name
Ceropales maculata (Fabricius, 1775)
Synonyms
Ceropales semiannulatus Ceropales tristis Ceropales balearica[1]

Taxonomy

Ceropales maculata was first formally described as Evania maculata in 1775 by the Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius with its type locality given as England.^[4] This species is now classified in the genus Ceropales which is one of two genera in the subfamily Ceropalinae within the spider wasp family Pompilidae.^[5]

Subspecies

• Ceropales maculata caenosa Townes, 1957
• Ceropales maculata fraterna Smith, 1855
• Ceropales maculata maculata (Fabricius, 1775)
• Ceropales maculata major Costa, 1888
• Ceropales maculata rhodomerus Townes, 1957
• Ceropales maculata stretchii Fox, 1892

Description

Cerpales maculata is a small spider wasp. Females are 6-9 mm in length, and males are 5-7.5 mm. There are distinct with bold white markings on its black body. The legs are orange-red, with the hind legs being very long. In a British context the absence of a red band on the abdomen identifies this species from C. variegata. Males can be told apart from females by their smaller size, slender shape and in having no ovipositor protruding from the abdomen.^[6]

Biology

Ceropales maculata is an uncommon spider wasp. This species intercepts other spider wasps engaged in prey transport and lays its eggs in the book lung of the captured spider. C. maculata then allows the other spider wasp to return to its nest, where the C. maculata larvae hatch, search for, find and eat the host egg, before it consumes the spider.^[7][8]

Spider wasps kleptoparasitised by C. maculata include species in the genera Priocnemis, Pompilus, Agenioideus, Arachnospila, Anoplius, Episyron and Auplopus in Britain and Europe. Other species of non-Pompilid solitary wasp which use spiders as prey, for example the crabronid Miscophus, may also be parasitised by C. maculata.^[7]

This species is univoltine; adults are seen from May to September.^[2] The adults have been observed feeding on wild carrot (Daucus carota) flowers.^[9]

Habitat

Ceroplaes maculata can be found in sandy areas such as heathlands, coastal dunes and sand pits.^[2]

Distribution

Ceroplaes maculata has a Holarctic distribution and is found in both North America and Eurasia.^[10]

Gallery

• 
  Ceropales maculata maculata in Baden-Württemberg, Germany
• 
  Ceropales maculata fraterna in Georgia, USA
• 
  Ceropales maculata stretchii in California, USA.