Numbers
There are currently six recognized species in our region.
Size
Most are medium-sized wasps, 15 mm or under.
Identification
Some species are entirely black, although any medium to small spider wasp with orange wings or flagellum should be suspected as this genus.
Cryptocheilus belongs to the subfamily Pepsinae, tribe Pepsini which is defined by the following characters: groove in 2nd sternite, crease on side of 1st tergite marking off an epipleuron, serrate HT, at least a partially exposed labrum, concave sides of 1st tergite (look dorsally), spines on end of hind tibia of equal size and spacing.
Subtle wing venation and other characters used to separate genera and species, see Townes (1957) for this information.
Range
The genus is found transcontinentally, some have restricted ranges.
Habitat
Varied, from open woods and woodland edges to deserts.
Season
Most species found late in the season (late summer-early autumn).
Food
Adults commonly visit flowers. Females provision nests in the ground (pre-existing cavity or some modification thereof) with a Lycosid spider.
Life Cycle
As in most later season species, those in Cryptocheilus have only one generation per year in most of the U.S.
Print References
Townes, H.K. 1957. Nearctic wasps of the subfamilies pepsinae and ceropalinae. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 209: 1-286. (species, descriptions, keys, distribution)
Krombein, K.V. 1979. Pompilidae, pp. 1523-1571. In Krombein, K.V., P.D. Hurd, Jr., D.R. Smith, and B.D. Burks, eds. Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico. Vol. 2 Apocrita (Aculeata). Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, D.C. (prey records, references)
