Taxonomy
Evagetes crassicornis
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not Assessed
Species Biology
Identification
- Body length: 5- 9 mm
- Head and thorax black in colour
- Abdomen partly red and black
- Relatively long legs and antennae
- Easily confused with other spider-hunting wasps and identification is generally not possible without a microscope
Habitat
Not fully known in Ireland, but records have previously come from sand dune systems and other sandy coastal areas.
Flight period
Univoltine, flying from July- September.
Nesting biology
A kleptoparasitic species which does not construct its own nests. Females instead rely on other spider-hunting wasps (believed to be Episyron rufipes or Arachnispila anceps in Ireland). The female of the host species will construct her own nest is sandy soils and deposit a paralyzed spider in cells constructed several centimeters deep within the nesting substrate. The female Evagetes crassicornis will seek out these nesting sites and enter the burrow when the host female is absent, before destroying the host female's egg and replacing it with her own. She then leaves the nest and reseals the entrance.
Flowers visited
Umbellifers such as Wild Carrot and various composite flowers.
Similar species
- Other spider-hunting wasps, especially Arachnospila species
- Ichneumon wasps
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2025
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References
Publications
O’Hanlon, A. and O’Connor, J.P. 2021 The spider-hunting
wasps of Ireland (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae). A review of the species, their
natural history and recorded distribution. Biology and Environment: Proceedings
of the Royal Irish Academy