white-trimmed black wasp - Episyron quinquenotatus - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#28153

Copyright © 2005 Robin McLeod

white-trimmed black wasp - Episyron quinquenotatus

Inverhuron Provincial Park, Bruce, Ontario, Canada
August 11, 2005
Size: about 10 mm

On sandy/gravelly lake shore with scattered shrubs, wandering over the ground. It has comb-like appendages on its front tarsi, easy to see against that pale stone.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 13 August, 2005 - 9:48pm
Last updated 27 September, 2005 - 11:23am

Episyron sp. - female (Pompilidae)

The females of this Spider Wasp genus have especially developped combs (that is the technical name) on their front tarsi because they dig their burrows in sandy soils. They hunt for Argiopid spiders.

… Richard Vernier, 15 August, 2005 - 4:57am

Episyron

Thanks, Richard. I moved the photo from the Wasps section to the genus page.

… Robin McLeod, 15 August, 2005 - 9:48pm

Wasp

I missed this shot when it came in. There are only five species in the US and Canada. This is likely E. quinqenotatus from the spots and I think I see four spines on the comb. Several of the species only have three spines.

… Herschel Raney, 26 September, 2005 - 11:47am

E. qunquenotatus

Thanks for the extra info, Herschel. I found a good match in Stephanie Boucher's photo and learned that this species is especially common along the shores of the Great Lakes, which is where I found it. More info and links in new Guide page.

… Robin McLeod, 27 September, 2005 - 11:37am

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