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Poecilopompilus algidus
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Poecilopompilus algidus algidus
Photo#64457
Copyright © 2006
tom murray
large spider wasp -
Poecilopompilus algidus
-
Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
July 16, 2006
Size: ~20mm
Images of this individual:
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Contributed by
tom murray
on 16 July, 2006 - 11:08pm
Last updated 18 December, 2020 - 12:28pm
Moved
Moved from
Poecilopompilus algidus
.
…
Matthias Buck
, 18 December, 2020 - 12:28pm
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Very fine
Pompilid. And I was totally at a loss as to what genus it might be in with that coloration. This is certainly not an Anoplius. However the northern specimens in Poecilopompilus are extremely variable and often much darker than our southern creatures. The eyes that are convergent on top are suggestive of that genus, as well as this impressive coloration. I cannot make out wing venation here. If it is Poecilopompilus it may even be the other species P. algidus but Evans said that P. interruptus was so variable in coloration as to almost defy description.
…
Herschel Raney
, 17 July, 2006 - 11:20am
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Poecilopompilus algidus
This is indeed
P. algidus
and I have just created a guide page so you have somewhere to put the image. Coloration is a supporting character, and a fairly good one for this particular individual.
P. interruptus
may be dark but are rarely this dark (notice I said rarely and not NEVER). However it was the good photos of the structure that allowed me to come to an ID. All
Poecilopompilus
have strongly convergent eyes above, but in this one they are REALLY convergent. The third antennal segment appears that it is a little more than the upper interocular distance (it's usally less than one in
interruptus
, the convergence is usually about half as strong in
interruptus
). Good shots of the tarsal comb revealed that this specimen has three very strong comb-spines, not four moderately strong comb-spines as in
interruptus
. Another good character (the nature of the front tarsal claws (bifid vs. dentate)) is usually not visible without a scope. By the way, this is the nominal subspecies,
P. a. algidus
.
…
Nick Fensler
, 18 July, 2006 - 12:06am
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Great!!!
That's a really good explanation of how to tell the difference between the species. Nick, thanks for the ID and setting up the guide page with all the info filled out.
…
tom murray
, 18 July, 2006 - 5:42am
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another picture added
that shows the wings a little better. I hope that's good enough for an ID.
…
tom murray
, 17 July, 2006 - 6:54pm
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(Maginificent) Spider Wasp (Pompilidae) - female
Pronotum does reach the tegulae (here the left one is clearly visible). Paradoxically, while the genders are easy to tell apart, an ID even to subfamily level is more difficult without wing venation and/ or underside of gaster.
But this superb tricolorous color pattern will maybe help somebody familiar with North-American fauna.
…
Richard Vernier
, 17 July, 2006 - 4:08am
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Spider Wasp
This was just about the same size as Sphex pennsylvanica. I didn't know we had spider wasps that big in the northeast. I'd like to see what kind of spider it goes after.
Richard, thanks for the help.
…
tom murray
, 17 July, 2006 - 7:29am
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Spider prey
This girl would go after a really big Araneid.
…
Nick Fensler
, 18 July, 2006 - 12:24am
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