Spider Wasp - Entypus unifasciatus

HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

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

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

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

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData

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) » Entypus » Entypus unifasciatus » Entypus unifasciatus unifasciatus

Photo#6763

Copyright © 2004 Mike Boone

Spider Wasp - Entypus unifasciatus -

Greenwood County, South Carolina, USA
September 5, 2004

I found this wasp dragging a dead/immobilized wolf spider across my garage floor. I assume the wasp killed the spider, but it could have possibly found it already dead. The wasp was fairly fast in dragging the spider, with the wasp pulling backwards. It even would pull the spider up vertical surfaces.

It was not a cooperative photographic subject and I think it thought I was trying to take the spider away, because on a few occasions it dropped the spider and flew at me until I backed away.

I have another couple shots from different angles but they don't seem to reveal any other details about the wasp.

tag · login or register to post comments

Contributed by Mike Boone on 6 September, 2004 - 6:00pm
Last updated 12 August, 2018 - 5:47pm

Moved

Moved from Entypus unifasciatus.

… Bob Biagi, 12 August, 2018 - 5:47pm

Spider Wasp

I found one of these last night in my backyard dragging a similarly sized wolf and making good progress through the grass. What caught my attention were the yellow antennae that were very active. We gave it a good berth but it was on a mission so it probably wasn't going to bother us if we left it alone. I'm glad I found this site!! I have it bookmarked for future reference!! THANK YOU!!!

… Kristi Farrington, 16 August, 2005 - 3:00pm

Spider wasp, Entypus unifasciatus

Fantastic! This is the species I was hoping to get photos of for the field guide! Way to go! The orange antennae and orange patch on the wingtips make this an easy ID. Plus, they are quite large wasps. They are pretty common in the eastern U.S. and I'm surprised other folks on bugguide have not photographed them. This one has paralyzed a wolf spider.

… Eric R. Eaton, 6 September, 2004 - 9:18pm

Moved to guide, female?

Nifty. Moved to a guide page. I'll be on the lookout for this one.

This is a female, correct?

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 7 September, 2004 - 5:37am

Thanks

Eric: thanks for the ID.
Patrick: thanks for the Info page.

… Mike Boone, 7 September, 2004 - 8:20am

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 © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version