Banded Spider Wasp

Caliadurgus fasciatellus

"Caliadurgus fasciatellus" is a species of spider wasp from the subfamily Pepsinae found from Western Europe to the Far East of Asia.
Banded Spider Wasp (Caliadurgus fasciatellus) Caliadurgus fasciatellus, seen here in my garden, is a species of spider-hunting wasp from the subfamily Pepsinae, found in the south & south eastern part of the UK. with some records also from southern Wales. From June to October it hunts Orb Web spiders of the genera Araneus and Meta which it paralyses before gripping its victim in its jaws, between the thorax and abdomen, and transporting to a burrow excavated vertically in sandy substrate where it's placed in the cell. Unusually, it constructs the nest AFTER having caught its prey. To avoid its prize being stolen while it does so, it suspends the spider to a nearby plant with the spider's own silk. Caliadurgus fasciatellus,Geotagged,Spring,United Kingdom

Appearance

"C. fasciatellus" reaches 6–10 millimetres in length. The 1st and 2nd segments of the abdomen are brownish red with white spurs in the middle and hind legs.
Caliadurgus fasciatellus Banded Spider Wasp,Caliadurgus fasciatellus,Fall,Geotagged,Spain

Distribution

In Europe found from Great Britain east to Russia and Finland south to Spain and the Balkans. In Great Britain it is mainly confined to the south and east.

Behavior

The flight period in Britain is June to October with a peak in July and August. It is not known what plants are used by the adults for feeding on nectar.

It hunts orb web spiders of the genera "Araneus" and "Meta". It excavates short, vertical burrows in sandy substrate once the prey has been caught. The prey is gripped in the jaws, between the thorax and abdomen, and transported to the burrow by being carried in front of the wasp. The prey is placed in a vertical position in the cell.

Habitat

Exposed dry sandy or sandy clay soils.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderHymenoptera
FamilyPompilidae
GenusCaliadurgus
SpeciesC. fasciatellus
Photographed in
Spain
United Kingdom