Cryptocheilus notatus

Cryptocheilus notatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Vespoidea
Family: Pompilidae
Subfamily: Pepsinae
Genus: Cryptocheilus
Species: C. notatus
Binomial name
Cryptocheilus notatus
(Rossi, 1792)
Synonyms
  • Cryptocheilus affinis[1]
  • Pompilus gutta
  • Pompilus affinis
  • Pompilus iracundus
  • Calicurgus apricus
  • Calicurgus melanius
  • Priocnemis binotatus
  • Salius marquetii
  • Cryptocheilus orientalis[2]

Cryptocheilus notatus is the largest species of spider wasps (Pompilidae) to be found in Great Britain reaching up to 18mm in length.

Biology

Cryptocheilus notatus constructs multi-celled nests and they require quite substantial pre-existing cavities, the wasp does very little digging herself. Nesting sites have included mammal burrows, notably those of the European Mole (Talpa europaea), but it will utilise disused invertebrate nest sites, which it will expand.

Prey recorded in Britain includes Drassodes cupreus, a large nocturnal ground spider from the Gnaphosidae.[3]

Habitat

Associated with woodland edges.[4] In Britain it is associated with warm lowland heaths.[5]

Distribution

Europe and the Middle East. In Britain it is only found in the southern heathlands from Kent west to Cornwall, with concentrations in Surrey and Hampshire.[6] In Europe has been recorded in Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Poland.[7] It has also been found in Turkey,[8] east to Iran[9] and Central Asia.[10]

References

  1. http://data.nbn.org.uk/speciesInfo/taxonomy.jsp?searchTerm=Cryptocheilus (Adonta) notatus&spKey=NHMSYS0000875814
  2. http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/species/240773/general
  3. http://www.natureconservationimaging.com/Pages/nature_conservation_imaging_heathland1_sh_wasps_Pepsinae3.htm
  4. Szczepko K, Kruk A & Bartos M, 2012 The role of mosaicity of the post-agriculture area of the Kampinos NationalPark in determining the diversity of species of spider wasps (Hymenoptera:Pompilidae) Eur. J. Entomol. 109: 35–46
  5. http://www.buglife.org.uk/Resources/Buglife/Migrated%20Resources/Documents/17%20Notable%20invertebrates%20associated%20with%20lowland%20heathland.pdf
  6. http://www.bwars.com/maps_wasps.htm
  7. http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/species/240773/geo
  8. Anlas S., Wahis R. & Tezcan S. 2005 Some additional notes on Pompilidae (Hymenoptera) Fauna of Turkey, Turk. Entomol. Derg. 29(4) 255-258
  9. Ebrahimi, E.,Schmid-Egger & Wahis R. 2008 New records of Pompilidae (Hymenoptera) from Iran Linzer biol. Beitr. 40(2) 1435-1442
  10. Wolf H. 2004 Wegwespen (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae) des Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseums Linz (Austria) aus Zentralasien (II) Linzer biol. Beitr. 36/2 1139-1152