Arachnospila anceps | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Pompilidae |
Genus: | Arachnospila |
Species: | A. anceps
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Binomial name | |
Arachnospila anceps (
Wesmael, 1851)
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Synonyms | |
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Arachnospila anceps is one of the more common spider wasps of western Europe.
A. anceps is a medium-sized, black and red spider wasp.
This species is found in northern and central Europe, including most of Britain and Ireland, and in Asia east to Mongolia. [2]
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]