Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#233581
Spider Wasp - Auplopus

Spider Wasp - Auplopus
Sand Springs, Osage County, Oklahoma, USA
October 13, 2008
Size: 8mm (5/16")
I saw this wasp Sunday afternoon walking across the porch and it was carrying a small Phidippus audax underneath it, similar to . It probably was not the same wasp but maybe since they nest in burrows, which was probably nearby. When I started trying to take pics it let go of the spider and would fly around then land over and over again so I couldn't get any pics of it. By the way, the spider appeared to have all of its legs removed. Is that common? I know they paralyze the spiders but why remove its legs? ....just to be sure it don't run off?
Anyway, late yesterday afternoon I was in the same area and here was this wasp again, without a spider this time. But, I managed to get some pics.
In looking through the guide it appears to me to be in the genus Aporus similar to .
However, the wings on the one in the guide appear to be a different color than on mine.
Please help with ID.

Images of this individual: tag all
Spider Wasp - Auplopus Spider Wasp - Auplopus Spider Wasp - Auplopus Spider Wasp - Auplopus

Great shots!
Nobody could make an ID mistake from these images. Just terrific!

 
Thanks Eric!
I really appreciate it!

Auplopus, female (OK)
Aporus has a much longer pronotum and is actually in another subfamily.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.