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The first host record for the North American spider wasp Cryptocheilus severini Banks (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae) from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México is introduced with pertinent observation information. The genus Cryptocheilus Panzer in North America is briefly described, its nesting habitat and prey transport outlined, and host specificity detailed.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:65404A9D-0B4C-4F7B-B8E2-0301EE922EF4
We present 112 new and unusual host records for 63 species and subspecies of Pompilidae (Hymenoptera) from the Western Hemisphere in modified taxonomic order according to the Synoptic Catalog of Hymenoptera (Krombein 1979). These records supplement those reported in a recent study by Kurczewski et al. (2020b). New and atypical genus and species host records are given for the genera Calopompilus Ashmead, Herbstellus Wahis, Pepsis Fabricius, Priocnessus Banks, Entypus Dahlbom, Pompilocalus RoigAlsina, Sphictostethus Kohl, Priocnemis Schiødte, Caliadurgus Fabricius, Epipompilus Kohl, Auplopus Spinola, Ageniella Banks, Eragenia Banks, Agenioideus Ashmead, Sericopompilus Howard, Poecilopompilus Ashmead, Tachypompilus Ashmead, and Priochilus (Fabricius). New host spider families are introduced for species of Calopompilus (Nemesiidae), Pepsis (Idiopidae, Pycnothelidae), Priocnessus (Euagridae), Entypus (Agelenidae), Ageniella (Theridiidae, Zoropsidae), Agenioideus (Theridiidae), Poecilopompilus (Salticidae), Tachypompilus (Anyphaenidae, Xenoctenidae, Pycnothelidae), Xerochares (Sparassidae), and Priochilus (Agelenidae). Curicaberis ?culiacans Rheims (Sparassidae), as prey of Xerochares expulsus (Schulz), is the first host record for this rare monotypic genus. Four new host spider families are reported from the Western Hemisphere for the first time: Idiopidae for Pepsis terminata, Pycnothelidae for Pepsis completa Smith and Tachypompilus mendozae (Dalla Torre), Euagridae for Priocnessus hurdi Dreisbach, and Xenoctenidae for T. mendozae. Pycnothelidae represents the first host record of a mygalomorph spider [Acanthogonatus ?incursus (Chamberlin)] for the worldwide genus Tachypompilus, based on more than 2500 host records. Amputation of the host spider’s legs and Ageniellini method of prey transport is highly unique in Poecilopompilus mixtus.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:48EC3DE6-45D1-40E2-8C4D-2D8788058CAC
This paper is the sequel to a 20 year-long (2002–2021) study of geographic variation in host selection in the common American spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) Entypus unifasciatus (Say) (Pepsini) and Tachypompilus ferrugineus (Say) (Pompilini) (rusty spider wasp). Geography and host spider family are strongly linked in both species when 3387 host spider locality records from the years 1918–2021 are mapped. Entypus unifasciatus lycosid host records are plentiful from 43–44° N in the United States and southern Ontario to northern Mexico. Tachypompilus ferrugineus lycosid host records are abundant from southern Ontario and New England southward to Mexico east of the Rocky Mountains. The vast majority (~80%) of E. unifasciatus and T. ferrugineus pisaurid host records are from the southeastern United States. Trechaleid host records for E. unifasciatus and T. ferrugineus are predominant in southern Mexico and Central America,
while ctenid host records for these spider wasps are prevalent in Central America and, especially, South America. All E. unifasciatus sparassid host records are from extreme southwestern United States and northern Mexico, whereas T. ferrugineus sparassid host records are scattered from Texas, Florida and Hispaniola/Puerto Rico southward to Panama and Brazil. Based on this study Lycosidae is the predominant host spider family in the Americas for E. unifasciatus (83.1%) and T. ferrugineus (64.0%) followed by Pisauridae (4.9%, 24.8%), Trechaleidae (4.2%, 6.0%), Ctenidae (4.3%, 2.7%), and Sparassidae (3.1%, 1.6%). Lycosidae and Pisauridae are overrepresented in this study as most host records (88.1%) are from the United States and Ontario, Canada where such species are abundant. Trechaleidae and Ctenidae are grossly underrepresented as host records from Mexico, Central America and South America are scarce (11.9%). Zoropsidae/Miturgidae and Zoropsidae / Agelenidae / Selenopidae are atypical host spider families for E. unifasciatus (0.2%, 0.2%) and T. ferrugineus (0.7%, 0.2%, <0.1%), respectively. Rabidosa rabida (Walckenaer) (Lycosidae) (rabid wolf spider) is the predominant host spider species for both E. unifasciatus (47.7%) and T. ferrugineus (48.0%) based mainly on United States host records.
Geography and host spider family are strongly linked in the spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) Entypus unifasciatus (Say) and Tachypompilus ferrugineus (Say) (rusty spider wasp) when 2031 host spider locality records from the years 1918–2020 are mapped. Entypus unifasciatus lycosid host records are plentiful from 43–44° N in the U.S. to northern Mexico. Tachypompilus ferrugineus lycosid host records are numerous from southern Ontario and New England to Mexico east of the Rocky Mountains. Most E. unifasciatus and T. ferrugineus pisaurid host records are from the SE U.S. Trechaleid host records for E. unifasciatus and T. ferrugineus are predominant in southern Mexico and Central America, while ctenid host records for these species are prevalent in northern South America. All E. unifasciatus sparassid host records are from extreme SW U.S. and Mexico, whereas T. ferrugineus sparassid host records are scattered from Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico to Panama. Lycosidae are the predominant host spider family in the Americas for E. unifasciatus (80.3%) and T. ferrugineus (67.4%) followed by Pisauridae (5.4%, 21.7%), Trechaleidae (4.8%, 6.8%), Ctenidae (4.6%, 1.8%), and Sparassidae (4.3%, 1.5%). Lycosidae and Pisauridae are overrepresented in this study as the vast majority of host records (87.8%) are from the U.S. and Ontario, Canada where such species are abundant. Trechaleidae and Ctenidae are grossly underrepresented as host records from Mexico, Central America and South America are scarce (12.2%). Zoropsidae/Miturgidae and Zoropsidae/Agelenidae are atypical host families for E. unifasciatus (0.3%, 0.3%) and T. ferrugineus (0.4%, 0.4%), respectively. Rabidosa rabida (Walckenaer) (Lycosidae) (rabid wolf spider) is the predominant host spider species for both E. unifasciatus (56.8%) and T. ferrugineus (58.3%).
Close-up photographs of nest entry, nest closure and prey transport taken on sandy coastal back dunes in Santa Barbara County, CA by Alice J. Abela substantiate and enhance written descriptions of these nesting behavior components in Miscophus californicus (Ashmead) [=M. laticeps (Ashmead)] (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Dictynidae (Dictyna Sundevall or Emblyna Chamberlin) is introduced as a new host family and host spider leg amputation is revealed for the first time for this small miscophine wasp.
Four online photographs from Oaxaca, Mexico taken by N. R. Jenzen-Jones and posted on inaturalist.org reveal Selenops sp., probably S. mexicanus Keyserling (Arachnida: Araneae: Selenopidae), as a new host spider species, genus and family for the common and widespread American spider wasp Tachypompilus ferrugineus (Say) (rusty spider wasp). The wasp transported the immobilized spider up an exterior stucco wall of a house, dorsal side upward, walking backwards for 3m to her nest in a gap between the wooden planking and stucco wall beneath the roof, while grasping the femur of its right pedipalp with her mandibles.
Macrophotographs in series taken by Alice Abela on sandy coastal dunes in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, CA in 2010–2021 supplement and enhance F. X. Williams (1928) study of the ecology and nesting behavior of the trapdoor spider-hunting spider wasp Aporus (Plectraporus) hirsutus (Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Aporini). Abela’s macrophotographs and observations provide new details of adult wasp feeding, functional morphology, hunting, digging and prey transport, and host spider trapdoor, entrance, burrow structure, host capture and escape activity. Newly reported host records from this study and online photographs expand A. hirsutus host selection in the large wafer-lid trapdoor spider genus Aptostichus Simon (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Euctenizidae). The A. hirsutus California geographic distribution map by Wasbauer and Kimsey (1985) is updated, thereby providing a broader definition of intraspecific variation in this species.
The use of common names for species and subspecies of North American spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) presents a variety of questions for pompilid specialists as most pompilid taxa are difficult to identify, even under the microscope. Some common names currently being used for spider wasp species are acceptable while others are misleading, unfit and unacceptable. Opinions on the relative value of common names for spider wasps from current Pompilidae researchers are given in the Introduction. Eleven inappropriate common names for North American Pompilidae species and subspecies are identified and discussedin the Results.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:065150FE-AFD2-45C3-A3D2-C90CD811A03E
Host records and nesting behavior of the Nearctic trapdoor spider-hunting spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) Calopompilus Ashmead and Priocnemissus Haupt (Pepsinae: Pepsini) and Aporus Spinola and Psorthaspis Banks (Pompilinae: Aporini) are reviewed, investigated, compared, and discussed. First time incidental trapdoor spider host records for Priocnemis (Priocnemissus) minorata Banks (Pepsinae: Pepsini), Anoplius (Lophopompilus) carolina (Banks) (Pompilinae: Pompilini), and Notocyphus dorsalis dorsalis Cresson (Notocyphinae: Notocyphini) are included, although they are not typical trapdoor spiderhunting spider wasp species. The Palearctic Aporus (Aporus) unicolor Spinola, A. (Aporus) bicolor Spinola and A. (Aporus) planiceps (Latreille) are referenced for comparison with Nearctic Aporus sensu stricto. Early 20th century papers on species of Aporus and Psorthaspis are revived. New information on nesting behavior of Nearctic trapdoor spider-hunting spider wasps is described and first host trapdoor spider records for Psorthaspis formosa (Smith), P. legata (Cresson) and P. mariae (Cresson) are documented. Potential Pompilidae species in the genera Calopompilus and Aporus are suggested for host trapdoor spider remains found in burrows with spider wasp eggs, larvae and cocoons (pupae) based on geographic distribution, habitat, spider species, trapdoor and burrow structure, wasp cocoon size, and wasp congeneric host records.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A431FD0A-FD44-404B-ADAA-8AFFABB8AF10
First host record, prey transport, and burrow excavation are described for Hesperopompilus sp., an undescribed, rare spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from Texas. Taxonomic, ecological, and behavioral examination of the genus subsequently led to an investigation of the previously related Perissopompilus Evans and Xerochares Evans. Taxonomic, host preference, nesting behavior, and phylogenomic relationships of the three taxa are discussed along with those of Xenopompilus Evans. The molecular connection of Perissopompilus and Allochares Banks is supported by their common use of host species of Filistatidae.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6718DF86-A516-4ED0-98DB-6D8C7846F5F5
