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Spider wasp

Cryptocheilus alternatus (or comparatus)

Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

4-5 cm long solitary digger wasp, paralyses its victims with venom, drags them to the previously prepared hole and lays an egg into the still alive prey. After the hatching larva uses pray as food for growth and development.

Habitat:

Most of the southern Europe, near roads and walls

Species ID Suggestions

Spider wasp

Cryptocheilus alternatus (or comparatus)

Comments (3)

This is actually a spider wasp in the family Pompilidae http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_wasp It has a good sized wolf spider (family Lycosidae) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_spider Also, have a look at this link for something that looks similar to yours http://insectes.lecolebuissonniere.eu/pompilides_1.html
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 14, 2013

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