BULLETIN OF THE CALIFORNIA INSECT SURVEY Volume 26 California Spider Wasps of the Subfamily Pompilinae (Hymenoptera: Pornpi I idae) by M. S. Wasbauer and L. S. Kimsey CALIFORNIA SPIDER WASPS OF THE SUBFAMILY POMPILINAE (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) BULLETIN OF THE CALIFORNIA INSECT SURVEY VOLUME 26 California Spider Wasps of the Subfamily Pompilinae (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) by M. S. Wasbauer and L. S. Kimsey BULLETIN OF THE CALIFORNIA INSECT SURVEY Editorial Board: Ted Case, John Chemsak, John Doyen, Henry Hespenheide, T. A. Miller, John Pinto, Rudolph Pipa, Jerry A. Powell, Arthur Shapiro, Robbin Thorp Volume 26 Issue Date: June 1985 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS BERKELEY AND LOS ANGELES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS, LTD. LONDON, ENGLAND ISBN 0-520-09957-5 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER 85-1060 0 1985 BY THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Wasbauer, Marius S. California spider wasps of the subfamily Pompilinae (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae). (Bulletin of the California Insect Survey; v. 26) Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Spider wasps-Classification. 2. Insects-Classi- fication. 3. Insects-California-Classification. I. Kimsey, Lynn Siri. 11. Title. 111. Title: Pompilinae (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae) IV. Series. QL475.C3C3 VO~.26 595.109794 s 85-1060 [QL568.P6] [595.79] ISBN 0-520-09957-5 (pbk.) CONTENTS Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 Biology ........................................................................................................ 1 Taxonomic methods ................................................................................. 4 Acknowledgments ..................................................................................... 5 Systematics ..................................................................................................... 6 Key to subfamilies of Pompilidae .......................................................... 6 Key to genera of California Pompilinae ............................................... 6 Genus Aporus ............................................................................................ 7 Genus Allaporus ........................................................................................ 11 Genus Psorthaspis .................................................................................... 12 Genus Chalcochares ................................................................................. 14 Genus Euagetes ......................................................................................... 15 Genus Tastiotenia ..................................................................................... 23 Genus Agenioideus ................................................................................... 24 Genus Sericopompilus .............................................................................. 27 Genus Episyron ......................................................................................... 28 Genus Poecilopompilus ............................................................................ 34 Genus Tachypompilus.............................................................................. 37 Genus Anoplius ......................................................................................... 39 Subgenus Lophopompilus .................................................................. 41 Subgenus Notiochares ........................................................................ 43 Subgenus Arachnophroctonus .......................................................... 44 Subgenus Pompilinus ......................................................................... 49 Subgenus Anoplius .............................................................................. 56 Genus Pompilus ........................................................................................ 63 Subgenus Hesperopornpilus ............................................................... 64 Subgenus Perissopornpilus ................................................................. 67 Subgenus Xerochares .......................................................................... 69 Subgenus Ammosphex ....................................................................... 69 Subgenus Arachnospila ...................................................................... 78 Subgenus Anoplochares ..................................................................... 82 Genus Aporinellus .................................................................................... 83 Genus Allochares ...................................................................................... 92 Literature cited ............................................................................................... 93 Plates ............................................................................................................. 97 Index to names in the California Pompilinae ........................................... 125 Index to hosts and adult food sources ........................................................ 128 CALIFORNIA SPIDER WASPS OF THE SUBFAMILY POMPILINAE (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) by M.S. Wasbauer and L.S. Kimsey INTRODUCTION THE POMPILJNAE are worldwide in distribution Morphologically,the Pompilinae form a more or and comprise the largest subfamily of Pompilidae less discrete assemblage, characterized by splayed, in America north of Mexico. In North America, the unevenly spaced spines which are of unequal subfamily contains 141 species in 18 genera as com- length at the apex of the posterior tibia; small spine pared with a total of 124 species in 13 genera for the pits dorsally near the apex of the posterior femur; Pepsinae and 25 species in 3 genera for the Cero- and a small invagination at the posterior proximal palinae. California has a large and diverse fauna of corner of the third discoidal cell. The posterior tibia Pompilinae, with 15 genera and 79 species. Thus may bear spines dorsally but is never serrate and 56% of the pompiline species of the United States the second metasomal sternum is lacking a trans- and Canada occur within the boundaries of this verse groove. state. There has been little concurrence throughout BIOLOGY the world on a tribal classification of the subfamily. With a few exceptions the Pompilinae are Even workers dealing strictly with the Nearctic inhabitants of relatively open situations and are fauna have produced somewhat differing tribal encountered in a variety of habitats such as sand arrangements. Bradley (1944), for example, divided dunes, dry washes, margins of streams and ponds, the Pompilinae into seven tribes. Banks (1947) forest clearings and trails. Since they are fast abandoned the use of tribes entirely and Evans flyers and move rapidly with long legs over low (1950,1966)recognized two tribes, the Aporini and vegetation and along the ground, often they are Pompilini based on fundamental morphological inconspicuous and difficult to capture. Many and biological differences. We use the latter system appear reluctant to fly from the ground when a net to treat the California Pompilinae, but have some is placed over them, preferring to seek refuge in a doubt as to the position of Psorthaspis in the crevice or under vegetation, and darting away ApOrini. when the net is removed. Collecting even a small The basic color of the pornpiline wasps is black, series of some of these more fugitive species can be a although in California Tachypompilus species, the study in exasperation. majority of the body is red and in Poecilopompilus, Since many species spend a large proportion of yellow dominates. There are species scattered their time running along the ground or flying low throughout the subfamily with combinations of over it, fight traps have proven a very successful black, red and/or yellow integumental markings. means for capturing them. Interestingly, flight Most pompilines are clothed with a minute trap catches usually show a large preponderance of appressed pubescence which may be dull or, in males. This is probably due to the fact that the some cases, may impart a brilliant blue or green females are often engaged in activities such as caste to the entire insect. The wings are normally nest construction and provisioning. transparent, usually with a darker apex, or often All Pompilidae are restricted in prey selection to entirely dark. A faint banding pattern is found in spiders. The majority of Pompilinae nest in the one California species. ground and provision each burrow with a single 1 2 Aporus (Aporus) luxus (Bks.) Aporus (Plectraporus) hirsutus (Bks.) Psorthaspis planata (Fox) Tastiotenia festiva Evans Agenioideus (Gymnochares) birkmanni (Bks.) Agenioideus (Agenioideus) humilis (Cress.) Agenioideus (Ridestus) biedermani (Bks.) Episyron quinquenotatus hurdi Evans Episyron biguttatus californicus (Bks.) Episyron conterminus posterus (Fox) Episyron Oregon Evans Episyron snowi (Vier.) ____ ~ ~~ Sericopornpilus neotropicalis (Cam.) 1 Poecilopompilus interruptus interruptus (Say) Anoplius (Lophopompilus) aethiops (Cress.) Anoplius (Lophopomplus) cleora (Bks.) Anoplius (Arachn@mtonus) americanus ambigurn (Dahlb.) Anoplius (Arachnophmtonus) nc;sritus (Dahlb.) Anoplius (Pompilinus) insolens (Bks.) Anoplius (Pompilinus) tenebrosus (Cress.) 21 Anoplius (Pompilinus) cylindricus (Cress.) Anoplius (Pompilinus) clystera (Bks.) Anoplius (Anoplius) ithaca (Bks.) Anoplius