Hymenoptera

Apocrita

Pompilidae

Spider Wasps

Pompilidae wasps are idiobiont parasitoids, laying their eggs on hosts that have been paralysed with their venom. The victim is usually dragged into a concealed chamber which is sealed up to help protect the larva's living larder from predation from scavengers looking for an easy meal. The development of the larvae of idiobiont parasitoids tend to be much quicker than in Koinobiont parasitoids (e.g. Ichneumonidae wasps) since their hosts are totally paralysed and must be eaten while their tissues remain relatively fresh.

Anoplius infuscatus with paralysed wolf spider (Xerolycosa miniata)
Anglesey, Wales - July 2008

Spider Wasps tend to dig burrows for burying their paralysed hosts inside (or seal up the ready made burrows made by the spider themselves as is the case with the Tarantula Hawk Wasps of the Americas and the Baboon Spider-hunting Wasps of Africa).