This is the first of six Wasps that I filmed on this day, in three different families. I filmed & released her twice that day. The others will be posted as time allows. (soon)
These are images of a female
Spider Wasp in the tribe
Aporini. I believe that she is one of the all dark females in the genus
Psorthaspis.
Full size image: Click Here
ID info:
Gender - 6 abdominal segments and 10 flagellomeres = ♀
Hind tibia are not serate = Subfamily Pompilinae
Keying to Genus in the Subfamily Pompinlinae: (females) (1)
1a. - Pronotum streptaulus absent medially
1b. - Pronotum longer than mesoscutum = 2 (tribe = Aporini)
2a. - Forewing with 3 SMCs
2b. - Front femora not swollen = 3
3aa. - Eyes not setose
3bb. - Pronotum elongate & streptaulus present except medially
3cc. - Mandibles with a strong fimbriate groove beneath = Genus
Psorthaspis Banks 1912
Species level info:
The base integument color is all black. The surface reflects a little blue in bright light. The wings are wholly infuscated. = Species
planata Fox (1892)
The clypeus is half-circle shaped, with no visible suture lines, all the way up the mid-line of her face. (similar to others in this genus)
She does not have a tarsal rake, but the foreleg's tarsi have three or four short spines. (0.5mm or less)
She has several large, nearly parallel & bumpy grooves on the lateral surfaces only, of her propodeum.
There is some minor damage to the left-side of her abdominal segment T2. (jagged fracture)