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  Spider Wasp ( Pompilidae family )



Spider Wasp | Pompilidae family  photo
This Spider Wasp is black with yellow antennae. It was photographed on fly screen inside the house.

Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Spider Wasp | Pompilidae family  photo
Unknown species of Spider Wasp on bottlebrush. This species has orange legs and antennae, and some orange on abdomen.

Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.




SPIDER WASP FACTS

Description
Spider wasps are long-legged, solitary wasps. Many species are black or orange and black. Females hunt spiders to provide food for larvae.

Size
20mm

Environment
forest, woodland

Breeding
Spider wasps use a spider as a host for feeding their larvae. They paralyse the spider with a sting and drag it to the nest. A single egg is laid on the abdomen of the spider and the nest is sealed. When the egg hatches, the larva feeds on the spider.



Classification
Class:Insecta
Order:Hymenoptera
Family:Pompilidae
Genus:Pompilidae family
Species:
Common Name:Spider Wasp