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Spider Hunting Wasp?

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 6:51 am
by Eddie-Bug
In our conservatory - Hertfordshire UK yesterday. 10-12cm

I'm guessing Pompilidae, and the nearest I can get is Episyron Rufipes or Priocnemis Exaltata ?

Re: Spider Hunting Wasp?

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 7:01 am
by Eddie-Bug
I meant 10-12mm of course - nearly 1/2 an inch

Re: Spider Hunting Wasp?

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 7:23 am
by adamcotton
It doesn't look like Priocnemis exaltata but I am not familiar with UK wasps. Note that species names should be written with a small first letter, only genus names start with a capital.

Adam.

Re: Spider Hunting Wasp?

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 2:03 pm
by Eddie-Bug
Thanks Adam,

I now don't think it's Episyron rufipes either.

We''ll get there.

Eddie

Re: Spider Hunting Wasp?

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 2:21 pm
by livingplanet3
It appears to be an Ichneumon of the genus Metopius, possibly M. citratus or M fuscipennis -

https://wildbristol.uk/groups/bees-wasp ... -citratus/

https://uk.inaturalist.org/taxa/1093791 ... uscipennis

Re: Spider Hunting Wasp?

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 3:35 pm
by Eddie-Bug
Yes, it does look more like one of those - I can't tell which. And their habitats and habits (parasitic rather than eating types of spiders we don't have around the house) makes more sense.

Re: Spider Hunting Wasp?

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 3:48 pm
by Eddie-Bug
A further image.