Episyron is a genus of wasps in the family Pompilidae which prey on spiders. Nine species are found in Europe.[2]

Episyron
Episyron rufipes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Pompilidae
Subfamily: Pompilinae
Genus: Episyron
Schioedte, 1837
Type species
Sphex rufipes
Linnaeus, 1758[1]

Features

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Episyron wasps are medium to large in size. The head and thorax have long, dark clustered hair with spotted abdomens.

Habits

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These wasps occur in open sandy habitats where the females can burrow easily to create nests. They prey on spiders of the families Araneidae, Lycosidae and Tetragnathidae.[2]

Species

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Sources:[3][4]

Taxa marked with an asterisk (*) are of doubtful validity.

References

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  1. ^ V.S.L. Pate (1946). "The Generic Names of the Spider Wasps (Psammocharidae olim Pompilidae) and Their Type Species (Hymenoptera: Aculeata)". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 72 (3): 65–137. JSTOR 25077544.
  2. ^ a b Bogdan Wiśniowski: Spider-hunting wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) of Poland. Ojców National Park, Ojców 2009, ISBN 83-60337-15-4.
  3. ^ "Global Names Index".
  4. ^ "Classification and checklist of Afrotropical Pompilidae". Archived from the original on 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-03-18.