Anoplius cleora
(Banks, 1917)
Anoplius cleora is a of in the . It is closely related to and morphologically similar to Anoplius aethiops, requiring microscopic examination to distinguish between the two. The species is associated with open sand dune , where it replaces its A. aethiops. Like other members of the , it is a solitary hunter that provisions underground nests with paralyzed wolf as food for its .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Anoplius cleora: /əˈnɒpliəs ˈkliːərə/
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Identification
Microscopic examination is required to reliably separate Anoplius cleora from the similar Anoplius aethiops. In the field, A. cleora tends to replace A. aethiops in open sand dune . A. cleora rarely visits flowers, whereas A. aethiops regularly visits flowers including wild carrot, goldenrod, sweet clover, , and thoroughwort for nectar. Both are large, jet black with black that reflect or violet, lacking the thin (stalk) that separates the from the in like the Great Black Wasp.
Habitat
Open sand dune . Replaces Anoplius aethiops in this specific habitat .
Distribution
Coast to coast in the United States, plus southern British Columbia and southeast Canada to the north, and Mexico and Guatemala to the south. Less common in the southeastern U.S. than in other parts of its range. Not recorded in North Dakota.
Host Associations
- Lycosidae - Wolf ; specific records for A. cleora not documented separately from A. aethiops in available sources
Behavior
Females dig burrows, often originating inside existing burrows or crevices, then hunt for wolf to provision the nest. The the spider in a nerve center to paralyze it, then transports the paralyzed to the burrow, lays a single on it, and seals the nest. The female repeats this as long as she is able.
Ecological Role
of wolf (Lycosidae). Functions as a agent for spider in sand dune .
Similar Taxa
- Anoplius aethiopsNearly identical in appearance; requires microscopic examination to distinguish. A. cleora replaces A. aethiops in sand dune and rarely visits flowers, whereas A. aethiops is common in fields, forest edges, meadows, and prairies and regularly visits flowers.
- Sphex pensylvanicus (Great Black Wasp)Similar large size and black coloration, but sphecids have a thin separating the from the , which pompilids lack.