The rain spider wasp or red-femora spider wasp
(''Tachypompilus ignitus'') is an
Afrotropical species of
spider wasp
Wasps in the family Pompilidae are commonly called spider wasps, spider-hunting wasps, or pompilid wasps. The family is cosmopolitan, with some 5,000 species in six subfamilies. Nearly all species are solitary (with the exception of some group-ne ...
specialising in capturing spiders of the genus ''
Palystes
''Palystes'' is a genus of huntsman spiders, commonly called rain spiders or lizard-eating spiders, occurring in Africa, India, Australia, and the Pacific. The most common and widespread species is '' P. superciliosus'', found in South Africa, h ...
'', the rain spiders.
Distribution
This spider wasp is found in Southern Africa, recorded from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Description
These wasps are about 45 mm in length.
They are largely black with orange antennae, orange dital parts of the legs, and largely orange wings, which are dark at the base and tip.
Biology
Females of ''T. ignites'' largely specialise in hunting and capturing rain spiders ''Palystes'' spp., which are stung by the wasp; the sting paralyses the spider which is dragged to the wasp's nest. In the nest, the wasp lays an egg on the spider and then seals the nest. When the
larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
...
hatches, it consumes the spider, starting with the less vital parts to keep the spider alive for as long as possible, eating the vital organs last. Once finished consuming the prey, the larva pupates, and males usually emerge before females and patrol nest sites looking for newly emerged females with which to mate.
have also been recorded as prey for this wasp.
Adults feed on nectar from flowers.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q28223507
Insects described in 1855
Pompilinae