Trypoxylon carinatum
Say, 1837
Trypoxylon carinatum is a of solitary spider-hunting in the Crabronidae. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, it is among the larger species in the . Like other Trypoxylon, females nest in pre-existing cavities and provision with paralyzed spiders for their offspring. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Trypoxylon carinatum: /trɪˈpɒksɪlən ˌkærɪˈneɪtəm/
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Identification
Members of Trypoxylon can be distinguished from other by: a long, slender, club-shaped with a blunt tip; a single submarginal in the forewing; and with an obvious notch on the inner margin. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, T. carinatum is medium-sized to large relative to other Trypoxylon . Definitive species-level identification requires collection of actual specimens.
Distribution
North America; Middle America. Records indicate presence in both regions.
Diet
Spiders, primarily individuals. Prey selection may include web-building spiders, free-ranging spiders, jumping spiders, crab spiders, running spiders, lynx spiders, and sac spiders.
Life Cycle
Females seek natural cavities such as hollow twigs, old borings in dead standing trees, vacated insect galls, and abandoned mud dauber nests. They progressively partition tunnels into individual from back to front, provisioning each cell with 5-20 paralyzed spiders (range 3-36), laying one per cell on the last victim. Larvae consume the spider cache, then spin a -specific cocoon composed of silk, saliva, and soil before pupating. emerge from completed nests.
Behavior
Solitary nesting by females. Males participate in nest maintenance by guarding the nest entrance while females hunt prey or gather materials, physically blocking and behaving aggressively toward enemies. In some , males may assist in cleaning cavities, building partitions, closing nests with mud plugs, and handling prey brought by females.
Ecological Role
of spiders. Potential prey for parasitic insects that attack nests.
Similar Taxa
- Trypoxylon politumAlso in Trypoxylon, but T. politum constructs distinctive free-standing tubular mud nests (the "Pipe Organ Mud Dauber") rather than using pre-existing cavities, and is the only North American member of the "fabricator group."
- Trypoxylon californicumConvergent as cavity-nesting spider-hunter in same subgenus Trypargilum; -level separation requires specimen examination.
- Trypoxylon clavatumSimilar size and in subgenus Trypargilum; definitive identification requires collection and examination of specimens.