Priocnemis perturbator

Priocnemis perturbator
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Family: Pompilidae
Genus: Priocnemis
Subgenus: Umbripennis
Species: P. perturbator
Binomial name
Priocnemis perturbator
(Harris, 1780)
Synonyms
  • Sphex perturbator
  • Calicurgus ambulator
  • Ichneumon ambustor
  • Pompilus sepicola
  • Pompilus serripes
  • Priocnemis (Umbripennis) ater[1]

Priocnemis perturbator is a relatively large species of spider wasp which is quite common in Europe. It was formerly considered to be the same species the closely related P. susterai as P. fuscus and this means that some early observations of behaviour are not applicable to either species.[2] Even now the two species need close observation under a microscope or hand lens to distinguish them from each other.[3]

Biology

Little is known about the nests of P. perturbator but other Priocnemis species generally use cavities which they find themselves and in which they may excavate several cells.[2] P. perturbator is univoltine and the flight period is from May to September. As stated in the introduction many of the observations of Priocnemis collecting prey refer to the invalid taxon P. fuscus but they are thought to take larger spiders of the families Lycosidae and Gnaphosidae. Females have been seen on the ground, apparently searching for prey . The spider Trochosa terricola is a known prey item.[2] This species is one of a handful of spider wasps, all of them relatively large and including Priocnemis susterai and Anoplius viaticus which overwinter as adults in Britain, appearing in the following spring. Priocnemis perturbator, which is reasonably common and has long antennae, can often be seen nectaring on Wood Spurge Euphorbia amygladoides[3] but it has also been seen nectaring on dandelion, blackthorn, hawthorn and willow.[2]

Habitat

Open woodland, but may be found in various habitats, so long as they are not waterlogged.[2]

Distribution

Widespread from Great Britain and Ireland into central and northern Europe and Asia eastwards to Japan.[2]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.eu-nomen.eu/portal/taxon.php?guid=urn:lsid:faunaeur.org:taxname:198664
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Edwards, R. & Telfer, M.G., eds. 2002. Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland. Part 4. Huntingdon: Biological Records Centre.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nature Conservation Imaging: The photographs of Jeremy Early http://www.natureconservationimaging.com/Pages/nature_conservation_imaging_biography.htm.