Ageniella
Guides
Ageniella arcuata
Ageniella arcuata is a small spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Banks in 1910. It belongs to the "accepta species group" of Ageniella, a complex of morphologically similar species that includes A. conflicta and A. blaisdelli. Like other members of this genus, it is likely a solitary hunter that provisions nests with paralyzed spiders for its larval offspring. The species is poorly documented in the scientific literature, with most biological details remaining unstudied.
Ageniella euphorbiae
Ageniella euphorbiae is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Viereck in 1903. It belongs to the genus Ageniella, a group of small pompilid wasps known for ant-mimicry in females. The specific epithet 'euphorbiae' suggests an association with plants in the genus Euphorbia. The species is part of the 'accepta species group' within Ageniella, which includes at least three North American species.
Ageniella longula
Ageniella longula is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. As with other members of the genus Ageniella, it likely exhibits ant-mimicry in females, with elongated legs and banded wings that create the illusion of ant-like body segmentation. The species belongs to the accepta species group, which includes at least three North American species characterized by small size and distinctive wing patterns.
Ageniella mintaka
Ageniella mintaka is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Brimley in 1928. It belongs to the genus Ageniella, which includes small wasps known for ant-mimicry and predation on spiders. The species is part of the 'accepta species group' within the genus. Like congeners, females are likely orange and brown with banded wings, while males differ markedly in coloration.
Ageniella reynoldsi
Ageniella reynoldsi is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Banks in 1933. Like other members of the genus Ageniella, it is a small parasitoid wasp that hunts spiders to provision nests for its larval offspring. The species is part of the 'accepta species group' within Ageniella, which includes several morphologically similar species that can be difficult to distinguish from images alone. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only three observations documented on iNaturalist.
Pompilidae
Spider Wasps, Spider-hunting Wasps, Pompilid Wasps
Spider wasps in the family Pompilidae are solitary, stinging wasps that hunt spiders to provision nests for their larvae. The family contains approximately 5,000 described species in six subfamilies, distributed worldwide. Most species capture and paralyze spiders using venom, then deposit them in burrows or cavities where a single egg is laid on each victim. Females of the genus Auplopus construct distinctive free-standing mud cells, while most other genera excavate burrows in soil or use pre-existing cavities. Members of the subfamily Ceropalinae are kleptoparasites, laying eggs in the nests of other pompilids or acting as ectoparasitoids of living spiders rather than building their own nests.
Hymenopterasolitary-waspsspider-predatorsparasitoidsmud-nest-buildersburrowing-waspsant-mimicskleptoparasitesPepsinaeCeropalinaePompilinaeAuplopusAnopliusAgeniellaCaliadurgusPepsisPriocnemisAplocharesArachnospilaEvagetesAgenioideusEpisyronNanoclaveliaPedinpompilusAgenioidevatetesNorth-AmericaAustraliaIranEuropecosmopolitan