Cryptocheilus australis (Guérin, 1830) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae): a new spider host

Abstract

Harris gives details of the biology of Australian spider hunting wasp, Cryptocheilus australis (Guérin, 1830) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae). He describes in detail the burrows and how the wasp catches and brings its prey to its burrows. He found that it preyed on two species of large spider, Dolomedes minor L. Koch, 1876, and Dolomedes sp. A (= Dolomedes dondalei Vink & Duperre, 2010) (Araneae: Pisauridae). Harris states that while the wasp mainly nests in clay soils it can live in areas of sand.