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Anoplius semicinctus
A Bluish-black Wasp (?) dragging off a spider (Insect: behavior, hunting or feeding habits)
On a mowed trail in Glendalough State Park close to Lake Blanche
My grandson and I were hiking the Lake Blanche Trail when a dark wasp (?) started buzzing us. This was unusual so we moved away from it a little bit and witnessed it diving up and down at something on the trail where we'd stopped earlier. Zooming in with my camera I could see it pulling something out of what looked like fluff but I believe now was a web. This is what transpired once it located the spider. It amazed me that the wasp (?) could possibly carry away this fairly heavy-looking spider but it did. I'm guessing the spider was its meal...
gatorfellows-Curl is girl, easy enough to remember... "-) Thank you so much for all your help identifying this wasp. I loved all the links you provided and learning a bit more about this spider hunter. I've witnessed (and tried to photograph) similar wasp behavior on a dock on Lake Emma (in the same park) but the spiders they were hauling off were different. I love the blue coloring you glimpse on their wings when the lighting is right and hope to capture that better in the future. :-)
Here is a good article from Bug Eric that explains this wasp's changeable look http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2012/02/wasp...
Just sent you another suggestion and it is in your range. It explains the color is on tergam 3, as in your spotting. I also looked at the spines on the hind tibia as best that I could and they seem to match. Full descriptors in this reference: http://bugguide.net/node/view/64779
JanelleL; this reference shows the curled antenna and if you read the Species ID section you will understand why I changed my suggestion to Anoplius sp. http://bugguide.net/node/view/166787/bgi...
JanelleL; This is still a blue black spider wasp but, I think the ID should chage to Anoplius sp. http://bugguide.net/node/view/5692 I cannot find my suggestion within your range, just near. Female blue black spider wasps are identified by a curl to the antennae.
gatorfellows-Thank you so much! How interesting! I'd thought the wasp was going to keep it for itself but it will use the body to nourish its young? How cool is that?!! Does that mean it was a female blue-black wasp then? :-)
These are solitary wasps and nest alone. They paralyze the spider, lay a single egg on it, and cover the nest burrow.
Spotted on Aug 22, 2013
Submitted on Feb 14, 2014
