Spider-hunting-wasp
Guides
Psorthaspis planata
Psorthaspis planata is a spider-hunting wasp in the family Pompilidae, native to western North America with highest observation frequency in California and Baja California. The species specializes in hunting trapdoor spiders, with the California trapdoor spider documented as prey. Sexual dimorphism in eye and ocellar structure has been described, with females showing eyes positioned remote from the head vertex and low ocelli placement.
Trypoxylon carinatum
Trypoxylon carinatum is a species of solitary spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, it is among the larger species in the genus. Like other Trypoxylon, females nest in pre-existing cavities and provision cells with paralyzed spiders for their offspring. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America.
Trypoxylon clavatum
square-headed wasp
Trypoxylon clavatum is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae, found in North America. It belongs to the subgenus Trypargilum, which includes medium-sized and larger species in this genus. The species has two recognized subspecies: T. c. clavatum and T. c. johannis. Like other Trypoxylon species, it is a solitary spider-hunting wasp that nests in pre-existing cavities.
Trypoxylon clavatum clavatum
Trypoxylon clavatum clavatum is a subspecies of spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. It belongs to the subgenus Trypargilum, characterized by medium to large body size within the genus. The wasp nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow twigs, beetle borings, and abandoned mud dauber nests, provisioning cells with paralyzed spiders for its larvae. Males actively participate in nest guarding and maintenance, a behavior termed 'patriarchate' by naturalist Phil Rau.
Trypoxylon clavatum johannis
Trypoxylon clavatum johannis is a subspecies of spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. It belongs to the subgenus Trypargilum, which comprises medium-sized to large species within the genus. Like other members of Trypoxylon, this wasp nests in pre-existing cavities and provisions its cells with paralyzed spiders. The subspecies was described by Richards in 1934 and is distributed in North America, with records from Ontario, Canada.
Trypoxylon frigidum
Trypoxylon frigidum is a species of square-headed wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is found in North America. The species belongs to the subgenus Trypoxylon, characterized by small body size compared to the larger subgenus Trypargilum. Two subspecies are recognized: T. f. frigidum and T. f. cornutum.
Trypoxylon spinosum
Black Reed Wasp
Trypoxylon spinosum is a species of solitary spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae. As a member of the subgenus Trypargilum, it is among the larger-bodied species in the genus. Like other Trypoxylon wasps, it nests in pre-existing cavities and provisions cells with paralyzed spiders for its offspring. The species was described by Cameron in 1889 and is known from Middle and North America.
Trypoxylon tridentatum
Trypoxylon tridentatum is a spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae, subgenus Trypargilum. It inhabits mesic and xeric habitats in arid regions, particularly the Baja California peninsula. The wasp provisions nest cells with paralyzed spiders as food for its larvae, showing strong preference for orb-weaving spiders in the family Araneidae. Unlike its congener T. politum, which constructs free-standing mud nests, T. tridentatum nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow twigs, beetle borings, and abandoned mud dauber nests.
Trypoxylon tridentatum tridentatum
Trypoxylon tridentatum tridentatum is a spider-hunting wasp in the family Crabronidae, subgenus Trypargilum. It occurs in mesic and xeric habitats of the arid Baja California peninsula and has been documented in British Columbia, Canada. This subspecies provisions nest cells with paralyzed spiders, with Araneidae comprising the majority of prey.