Notocyphus dorsalis arizonicus

The subspecies can be distinguished from the nominate form Notocyphus dorsalis dorsalis by its geographic restriction to Arizona. Specific morphological differences separating this subspecies from other populations of N. dorsalis have not been clearly documented in available sources. Identification to species level in Notocyphus requires examination of wing venation, clypeal structure, and other fine morphological characters typical of Pompilidae.

Arizona, United States. The subspecies epithet and original description indicate this taxon is restricted to Arizona, though precise locality details from the original description are not provided in available sources.

Spiders. As a member of Pompilidae, this wasp is a spider-hunting specialist. Females paralyze spiders with their sting and use them as living food stores for their developing larvae. The specific spider prey species utilized by this subspecies has not been documented.

Solitary nesting behavior typical of Pompilidae. Females hunt spiders, paralyze them, and transport them to underground nests where eggs are laid on the immobilized prey. Larvae develop by feeding on the paralyzed spiders. Males do not participate in nest provisioning.

Predator of spiders; contributes to spider population regulation. As with other spider wasps, this species functions as a biological control agent for spider populations in its habitat. Its parasitoid-like provisioning behavior makes it an important component of arthropod food webs.

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• Scorched locust, courtesy of the Locust leafminer, Odontota dorsalis — Bug of the Week
• 2018 Arizona Insect Collecting Trip “iReport” | Beetles In The Bush
• Discovery of wasp species previously unknown in the U.S.