PHANAGENIA BOMBYCINA

PHANAGENIA BOMBYCINA

Phanagenia bombycina
SPIDER WASP FAMILY (Pompilidae)

This spider wasp is approximately 5/8 inch or 17 mm in length. It is entirely black. The legs are very long and spiny. The antennae are long and curved. This wasp was identified by volunteer experts at the BugGuide Web Site.

The only known occurrence of this spider wasp at this time is of the individual shown here. The photograph was taken at the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center building in mid-June.

The female provides paralyzed spiders for the larva to feed on. They have been photographed carrying Lycosid spiders to the nest. The wasp amputates the legs of the spider before taking it to their mud nests typically built under rocks, tree bark or logs and sometimes on walls of buildings or other structures.

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.