Spider-egg-parasite
Guides
Dicromantispa sayi
Say's mantidfly
Dicromantispa sayi, commonly known as Say's mantidfly, is a small predatory insect in the family Mantispidae. Adults measure 14–15 mm and are recognized by their raptorial forelegs resembling those of praying mantises. The species exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism in coloration, with females typically darker than males. It is found across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, where it inhabits forest edges and prairies. Adults are active from mid-July through early September, peaking at the end of July. The species has a specialized life cycle in which larvae are obligate predators of spider eggs.
Tromatobia rufopectus
Tromatobia rufopectus is an ichneumonid wasp species described by Cresson in 1870. The species has been documented as a parasite of spider egg sacs, specifically recorded emerging from egg sacs of the orb-weaver Argiope aurantia. It is one of multiple parasitoid species associated with overwintering spider egg cases.