AGENIOIDEUS HUMILIS

AGENIOIDEUS HUMILIS

Agenioideus humilis
SPIDER WASP FAMILY (Pompilidae)

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A small black spider wasp, approximately 1/2 inch or 13 mm in length. Wings are clear with double bands of dark brown color on the ends of the wings. Legs are long and black. Antennae are long, black and many segmented.

This spider is widely distributed from southern Canada and throughout the United States, south to Guatemala. It is probably common in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods although it has been seen and photographed only once. It was photographed in Fontenelle Forest in mid-October.

Little is known about the feeding habits of the adult wasp. There are no records of adults feeding at flowers or aphid honeydew secretions (used by other spider wasps as a food source). Females capture and imobilize orb-weaving spiders of the family Araneidae. The spiders are dragged to nests in crevices in rock walls or buildings and a single egg laid on the spider.

The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Loren Padelford.