Spider Wasps: Pompilidae

Female Pompilidae predate on spiders, using their bodies as larval hosts.

Pompilidae species populate most land areas around the globe. North American species numbers approach the 150 mark, divided into a dozen and one half genera.

Agriculture specialists have always invested time tyring to understand and leverage the utility of natural biological control agents.

Pompilidae prey, spiders, partially explains well over one hundred years of documented research on the spider wasps. Over time, information regarding biological spider controls remains a hot topic.

Entomologists continue to document spider wasp prey. By most accounts, Pompilidae display a range of spider tastes. Some genera are specialists hunters, choosing species from one or two spider families.

Species in the genus Pepsis, tarantula hawks, inhabit tarantula habitat, the desert Southwest.

Identifying one is relatively easy because of their large size (up to two inches) and brightly colored wings.

Tarantula Hawks produce one of the most painful stings in the bee world. However, their general lack of aggression to humans translates into humans in their habitat adopting a live and let live relationship with them.

New Mexico recognizes the tarantula hawk as the official state insect.

Other Pompilidae, such as genus Tastiotenia, have been known to target widow spiders as their prey.

Picture three shows Poecilopompilus algidus, a large and colorful spider wasp species with a range extending across the southern border, although some records show small populations in the upper-Midwest and New England.

Females around sandy soil are indicative of nest building.

© 2009-2011 Patricia A. Michaels