Black-banded Spider Wasp

Anoplius viaticus

Anoplius viaticus, commonly known as the black-banded spider wasp, is a species of spider wasp. These wasps are known as spider wasps because the females capture spiders to provide their offspring with food. The paralysed spider is cached in a burrow, the wasp lays an egg on it, and when this hatches, the developing wasp larva consumes the spider. This species is found in sandy heathland across most of Europe, and also the mountainous parts of eastern Africa and the temperate parts of South Africa.

Scientific name

Anoplius viaticus

Family

Pompilidae