Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Described by
Banks in 1912.
Numbers
Five recognized subgenera. At 36 species Ageniella is the second largest genus of spider wasps in North America.
Size
Although some can be moderately large, most are rather small, near 10 mm.
Identification
This genus belongs to the subfamily Pepsinae, tribe Ageniellini and is diagnosed on the following characters:
Lack of spine pits on dorsal side of hind femur.
Spines at apex of hind tibia of equal size and spacing.
Lacks pocket in basioposterior corner of third discal cell.
Labrum at least partially exposed and eyes are nearly parallel internally.
Transverse groove in second sternite.
First tergite concave near the base.
First tergite lacks a lateral crease.
Cubital vein usually fades out before the wing margin.
This is one of two genera in the tribe Ageniellini that have species with serrate hind tibia. Under a scope they can be separated from Phanagenia and Auplopus by the lack of strong bristles on the underside of the head near the jaws. They also lack long, erect hairs on the propodeum. Phanagenia also has a crease on the side of the first tergite that no other Agenielline has, including Ageniella. Any Agenielline with serrate hind tibia away from southern Texas would be Ageniella.
Habitat
Variable; some species are generalists, whereas others are found in specific habitats. As a genus they can be found in almost every imaginable terrestrial habitat.
Season
Throughout most of the warm season, some can be found as early as May in the north (Ohio) (N. Fensler, unpublished data).
Food
As adults some species are known to visit flowers (various umbellifers). The young feed on spiders, of course. They provision with various species of Agelenidae, Salticidae, Thomisidae, and Lycosidae.
See Also
Other genera of the tribe Ageniellini: Phanagenia, Auplopus, and Priocnemella.
Print References
See Krombein et al. [cite:61558] for notes on distribution and some prey records.
See Townes, 1957
(1) for species descriptions, distibutions, and dichotomous keys.
