Psorthaspis mariae

Really bad shot but I could not keep up with this fast wasp! Crawling at the base of an OLD oak tree in a dense mixed forest.

comments (7)

Christine Young

Lion

Awesome find and NOT a bad shot! Posted 4 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Agree, shot is fine and the species amazing. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Flown Kimmerling
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks!! I just had Rick West (an expert arachnologist) contact me on iNaturalist about this observation! He was curious if I noticed it foraging or flipping up any trapdoor spider nests! He and his colleagues are writing a paper on associated spider host species. I have seen Ummidia sp. all around this trail, so I let him know that. Unfortunately, I didn't see any trapdoor action. If I see this species again, I will DEFINITELY be observing it for much longer!
    
    Rick's pages:
    https://www.inaturalist.org/people/rick_c_west
    http://www.birdspiders.com/ Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Wonderful! So cool when your spottings get extra meaning this way. Posted 4 years ago
    2. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Ohhh, that's so cool! And, that would be an amazing behavior to witness. I hope you find it again!! Try to get video, if you do. Posted 4 years ago
    3. 1. Flown Kimmerling
        
        Lion
        
        I'm excited to find another. He is looking for any pompilid predation events, so y'all keep your eyes open! In his last message, he let me know that this observation is included in one of their papers (in review):
        
        Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
      2. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Woohoo! Posted 4 years ago