Anoplius americanus is a species of blue-black spider wasp which is widely distributed in the New World.

Anoplius americanus
Anoplius americanus, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, Florida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Pompilidae
Genus: Anoplius
Species:
A. americanus
Binomial name
Anoplius americanus

Description

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Anoplius americanus is approximately 20 mm in length. It is almost completely black, except for bright orange spots on the second and third segments on the abdomen which are specifically distinct.[2]

Habitat and Ecology

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Adults have been observed nectaring on flowers of the families Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Polygonaceae.[3] Like other members of the genus Anoplius the predominant prey is likely to be wolf spiders of the family Lycosidae.

Distribution

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Anoplius americanus can be found in North America, Central America,[4][5] and the West Indies.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Anoplius americanus (Beauvois)". GBIF.org. 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  2. ^ "ANOPLIUS AMERICANUS". Fontenelle Forest. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Flowering Plants Visited by Anoplius americanus". John Hilty. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Insects of Panamá". Arizona State University. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  5. ^ Vaonoye-Eligio, Maximiliano; Melendez Ramirez, Virginia; Ayala, Ricardo; Navarro, Jorge; Delfin-Gonzales, Hugo (2014). "Predatory Wasps (Hymenoptera of the Yucatan Peninsula". Southwestern Entomologist Perspectives. 39 (3): 635–646.
  6. ^ .Starr, Christopher K.; Hook, Allan W (2003). "The aculeate Hymenoptera of Trinidad, West Indies" (PDF). Occasional Papers of the Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies. 12: 1–31.
  7. ^ Waichert, Cecilia; Rodriguez, Juanita; von Dolen, Carol; Pitts, James P. (2012). "The Spider Wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) of the Dominican Republic". Zootaxa. 3353: 1–47.