Genus Priocnemis

15 species in three subgenera (Sphictostethus, Priocnemissus, and Priocnemis).

5-15 mm, females generally slightly larger.

Possesses characters of the subfamily Pepsinae, tribe Pepsini:

Priocnemis:

Most similar structurally to Caliadurgus:

Transcontinental. Many are widespread, others are either restricted or little known.

Varied. Many inhabit woods but some are also found in open areas (meadows, waste places, etc.)

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.

Adults uncommonly visit flowers. Prey species are extremely variable and as a genus they take spiders from nearly every common family in North America.

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.

Two species were described in 1986 by Marius Wasbauer that obviously would not be included in the references below, P. kevini and P. lasiura.

Very similar to Caliadurgus

Townes, H.K. 1957. Nearctic wasps of the subfamilies pepsinae and ceropalinae. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 209: 1-286. (species descriptions, distribution, keys).

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)