Spider-hunter
Guides
Anoplius americanus americanus
Anoplius americanus americanus is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. Members of the genus Anoplius are solitary wasps that hunt spiders to provision nests for their larvae. This subspecies is part of a widespread North American species complex. Spider wasps in this genus are known for their distinctive hunting behavior and powerful stings used to paralyze prey.
Anoplius semirufus
Anoplius semirufus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. As a member of the genus Anoplius, it belongs to a diverse group of solitary wasps that prey primarily on spiders. The species name 'semirufus' (half-red) suggests distinctive reddish coloration on part of the body, likely the abdomen. Like other Anoplius species, it is presumed to hunt wolf spiders or similar ground-dwelling spiders, paralyzing them with venom to provision underground nest cells for its larvae.
Anoplius subcylindricus
Anoplius subcylindricus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. It belongs to a diverse genus of solitary wasps that prey primarily on spiders. Like other members of Anoplius, this species exhibits the characteristic behaviors of spider wasps: females hunt spiders, paralyze them with venom, and provision underground burrows with these paralyzed prey for their larval offspring. The species was described by Nathan Banks in 1917.
Auplopus architectus architectus
Auplopus architectus architectus is a small spider-hunting wasp in the family Pompilidae. Females construct distinctive barrel-shaped mud cells to house their offspring, provisioning each cell with paralyzed spiders as food. The species is part of a genus known for unique nest-building behavior among pompilid wasps, which typically dig burrows rather than construct free-standing mud structures.
Auplopus architectus metallicus
Auplopus architectus metallicus is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, tribe Auplopini. Like other Auplopus, females construct small, free-standing mud cells to house paralyzed spider prey and developing larvae. The subspecies was described by Banks in 1910. Members of this genus are small wasps, typically around 10 millimeters in length, with several species exhibiting bright metallic blue-green coloration.
Chalybion zimmermanni zimmermanni
Zimmerman's Mud-dauber Wasp
Chalybion zimmermanni zimmermanni is a subspecies of mud dauber wasp in the family Sphecidae. It is one of two Chalybion species found north of Mexico, distinguished from the widespread C. californicum by its white thoracic hairs and smoky rather than violaceous wing coloration. Like other blue mud daubers, females are solitary nesters that remodel abandoned mud nests rather than constructing their own, and hunt spiders including black widows as prey for their larvae.
Gardena
thread-legged bug
Gardena is a genus of thread-legged assassin bugs in the subfamily Emesinae, tribe Emesini. It is the second-largest genus in its tribe, with 46 described species. Members of this genus are characterized by their elongated, slender bodies and raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The genus was established by Dohrn in 1859.
Phanagenia
Phanagenia is a genus of spider wasps in the tribe Ageniellini, family Pompilidae. The genus contains only one species in North America, Phanagenia bombycina. These wasps are solitary hunters that construct mud nests to house their offspring, provisioning them with paralyzed spiders.
Phanagenia bombycina
Phanagenia bombycina is a solitary spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, tribe Auplopini. It constructs delicate mud barrel nests to house paralyzed spider prey and developing larvae. The species is found east of the Rocky Mountains and is slightly larger than related Auplopus species. Uniquely, it frequently builds its mud cells inside the abandoned nests of the pipe organ mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum).
Pison
Pison is a cosmopolitan genus of spider wasps in the family Crabronidae, comprising approximately 145 described species with many more undescribed, particularly in South America. Adult females hunt and paralyze living spiders to provision nest cells, on which they lay eggs. The genus exhibits diverse nesting strategies, including mud construction, use of natural cavities, and excavation of burrows. Pison wasps are most diverse in the Southern Hemisphere, with about one-third of species occurring in Australia.
Psorthaspis
spider wasps
Psorthaspis is a genus of spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, containing more than 30 described species. Members of this genus are solitary wasps that hunt spiders to provision their nests. The genus was established by Nathan Banks in 1911.
Psorthaspis brimleyi
spider wasp
Psorthaspis brimleyi is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. It is one of several species in the genus Psorthaspis, which are specialized predators of spiders. The species was originally described as Pedinaspis brimleyi by Malloch in 1928. Spider wasps in this family are solitary hunters that paralyze spiders to provision nests for their larvae.
Tachypompilus unicolor cerinus
Tachypompilus unicolor cerinus is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Evans in 1966. It belongs to a genus known for hunting large spiders, particularly wolf spiders and fishing spiders, which are paralyzed and provisioned as food for larval offspring. The subspecies is part of the widespread T. unicolor complex, which exhibits considerable geographic variation across North America. Like other members of its genus, it is solitary and ground-nesting.
Trypoxylon
keyhole wasps, pipe organ mud daubers
Trypoxylon is a large genus of solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae, comprising approximately 634 species worldwide. The genus is notable for being the most speciose within its family. All studied species are active hunters of spiders, which they paralyze with venom to provision nests for their larvae. Nesting strategies vary: most species utilize pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems, beetle borings, or abandoned nests, while a minority construct free-standing mud nests. The genus is divided into two subgenera: Trypoxylon (smaller species) and Trypargilum (medium to large species).
Trypoxylon californicum
Trypoxylon californicum is a solitary spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae, subgenus Trypargilum. Females nest in pre-existing cavities such as hollow twigs, beetle borings, or abandoned mud dauber nests, partitioning them into multiple cells provisioned with paralyzed spiders. Males actively guard nest entrances against parasites while females hunt, a behavior termed 'patriarchate' by naturalists. The species is found across western North America and has been successfully attracted to artificial trap nests.