Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
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
Upcoming Events

BugGuide is a National Moth Week Partner. How to add your National Moth Week 2021 photos. July 17-25.

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

National Moth Week 2020 photos of insects and people.

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 BugGuide Gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Discussion, insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12

Photos of insects and people from the 2014 gathering in Virginia, June 4-7.

Photos of insects and people from the 2013 gathering in Arizona, July 25-28

Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
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) » Pepsinae » Tarantula-hawk Wasps and Allies (Pepsini) » Priocnemis

Genus Priocnemis

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References
Priocnemis germana - female Wasp - Priocnemis oregona Wasp ID Request - Priocnemis minorata - female Spider wasp with prey - Priocnemis minorata - female 8031508 Pompilid - Priocnemis germana - female Priocnemis? - Priocnemis oregona Very small spider wasp with spider - Priocnemis cornica - female spider wasp – Priocnemis minorata? - Priocnemis minorata
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Pompiloidea (Spider Wasps, Velvet Ants and allies)
Family Pompilidae (Spider Wasps)
Subfamily Pepsinae
Tribe Pepsini (Tarantula-hawk Wasps and Allies)
Genus Priocnemis
Numbers
15 species in three subgenera (Sphictostethus, Priocnemissus, and Priocnemis).
Size
5-15 mm, females generally slightly larger.
Identification
Possesses characters of the subfamily Pepsinae, tribe Pepsini:
Groove in second sternite, crease on side of first tergite marking off an epipleuron, side of first tergite straight sided or slightly convex when viewed from above.
Serrate hind tibia in both sexes.
Lacks pocket in basioposterior corner of third discal cell and spine pits on dorsal side of hind femur.
Labrum at least partially concealed under clypeus.
Spines at end of hind tibia of equal size and spacing.

Priocnemis:
Lacks bristles on underside of apical tarsal segments
Has second transverse cubital vein straight anteriorly but strongly curved posteriorly.

Most similar structurally to Caliadurgus:
Females lack stout, spine-like bristle at apex of foretibia.
Anal lobe oblong, not subtriangular and without a straight side.
Pronotum of "normal" length.
Most individuals of Caliadurgus marked with red, but only some Priocnemis.
Range
Transcontinental. Many are widespread, others are either restricted or little known.
Habitat
Varied. Many inhabit woods but some are also found in open areas (meadows, waste places, etc.)
Season
The subgenus Priocnemissus, which includes the very common Priocnemis minorata, is vernal and can be found as early as March in southern parts of its range. Other species are found from late May through September in most of the country.
Food
Adults uncommonly visit flowers. Prey species are extremely variable and as a genus they take spiders from nearly every common family in North America.
Life Cycle
Most species do not dig burrows from the surface of the ground but instead dig chambers off the side of a pre-existing crevice or mammal burrow. Many species have several (2-3 in the north) generations per year.
Remarks
Two species were described in 1986 by Marius Wasbauer that obviously would not be included in the references below, P. kevini and P. lasiura.
See Also
Very similar to Caliadurgus
Print References
Townes, H.K. 1957. Nearctic wasps of the subfamilies pepsinae and ceropalinae. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 209: 1-286. (species descriptions, distribution, keys). (Relevant Section)

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. (list of species, except recently described [see Remarks], prey records, distribution)
Internet References
GBIF
iNaturalist
Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 29 November, 2005 - 5:09pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, NFensler, ceiseman, Nathaniel Green
Last updated 9 May, 2021 - 11:37am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2021 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact