Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Suborder Apocrita | Phylum Arthropoda Order Hymenoptera Family Pompilidae | |
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tachypompilus analis
Tachypompilus analis or red-tailed spider wasp is a species of spider wasp which is found in most of tropical and sub-tropical Asia, north to Japan. These spider wasps often hunt huntsman spiders.
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tachypompilus analis
Description
T. analis is a medium sized to large wasp with females in mainland China measuring between 16mm and 21mm, while the smaller males measure 11mm in length, island populations tend to be smaller. It is almost completely black except for the last four, in females, or last five , in males, metasomal segments which are bright orange or red and give rise to the common name, red-tailed spider wasp.
Biology
T. anailis preys on spiders from the families Sparassidae, Agelenidae and Amaurobiidae. In Japan Heteropoda venatoria has been recorded being preyed on by this species. The wasp can easily penetrate the most complex webs and the prey is flushed and pursued, the web does provide some protection for the spider but the wasp persists in attacking until the spider drops out of the web to the ground where the wasp stings and paralyses the spider. Once captured the prey is dragged backwards by its pedipalps, sometimes leaving the prey to inspect either the route or the nest at which point the prey could be kleptoparasitised by other female T. analis, although females will fight to defend their prey In these circumstances. The prey is placed in a conical cavity excavated by the female, who may fold its legs to fit it in, and once oviposition has taken place the spoil is used to cover the nest, although pre-existing cavities may also be used. As in other spider wasps the males often patrol the nesting areas so that they can mate with the newly emerged females.
Irenangelus luzonensis is recorded as kleptoparasitising T. analis in the Philippines while other species of Irenangelus are also recorded as kleptoprarasites of T. analis. Tachinid flies are known to attack and consume spiders which have been immobilised by T. analis, and scuttle flies and satellite flies may also consume spiders preyed on by these wasps.
Distribution
T. analis is a widespread species being found from the Nansei Islands of Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines and across south-east and southern Asia, it is also found in Hawaii.