Spider Wasp Body Scan - Anoplius americanus

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Spider Wasps, Velvet Ants and allies (Pompiloidea) » Spider Wasps (Pompilidae) » Pompilinae » Pompilini » Blue-black Spider Wasps (Anoplius) » Subgenus Arachnophroctonus (Anoplius Subgenus Arachnophroctonus) » Anoplius americanus » Anoplius americanus ambiguus

Photo#1134986

Copyright © 2015 Bob Biagi

Spider Wasp Body Scan - Anoplius americanus -

Tonopah Desert, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
May 10, 2015
Size: 13mm

These are images of a Spider Wasp, that I believe is a female Anoplius americanus ambiguus. (subspecies)
Full size image: Click Here
ID information:
1) - The wing's submarginal cells are a match for the genus & species level ID.
2) - The geographic distribution constraints may limit the possible subspecies that may be found in my area. (central Arizona)
3) - The orange coloring on the first three abdominal segments indicates that this wasp's subspecies is most likely A. a. ambiguus.

Images of this individual: tag all

Spider Wasp Body Scan - Anoplius americanus - female

Spider Wasp Body Scan (wings) - Anoplius americanus - female

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Contributed by Bob Biagi on 7 September, 2015 - 5:02pm
Last updated 19 July, 2016 - 3:04pm

Moved

Moved from Blue-Black Spider Wasps.

… Bob Biagi, 18 September, 2015 - 7:15pm

Testing for subgenera grouping qualities & below

I have finished reviewing the subgenera and here is a summery list:
(name)-(quality)=(result)
Anopliodes - wing SMC3 wider at the radial than SMC2, marginal cell long = fail
Anoplius - no tarsal rake, wing SMC3 not triangular = fail
Archnophroctonus - rake, hair, clypeus, wing SMC3 = pass
Lophopompilus - hairy head & thorax, arcuate hind margin of the pronotum = fail
Notochares - apical margin of clypeus with a median emargination = fail
Pompilinus - wing SMC3 petiolate = fail

Species & Subspecies level:
After reviewing the species in the subgenera group Archnophroctonus, A. americanus ambiguus is the only one with this exact type of abdominal coloring.

… Bob Biagi, 18 September, 2015 - 7:13pm

Moved

Moved from Spider Wasps.

… Bob Biagi, 10 September, 2015 - 2:39pm

ID info

I have eliminated several other related genera, such as Evagetes, Sericopompilus, Arachnospila, Anoplochares and others, based on wing veins & color, body & leg coloring and shapes, etc.
Also, she fits the description of the females in the genus Anoplius, from the info tab:
"All pompilines have a pocket in the lower rear corner of the third discal cell (the Peterson Guide should have a wing venation diagram). Female Anoplius all have noticeable stiff bristles on the last tergite (pygidium)."
OK, there are six subgenera to consider; so I will move her to genus level for now, until I finish reviewing them all.

… Bob Biagi, 10 September, 2015 - 2:35pm

Moved for expert attention

Moved from ID Request.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 7 September, 2015 - 5:17pm

Wasps per day?

Ken, I'm almost done with that day. Thanks

… Bob Biagi, 7 September, 2015 - 7:06pm

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