Psorthaspis mariae (Cresson)

Kurczewski, Frank E. & West, Rick C., 2023, Evaluation of North American spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) common names, Insecta Mundi 2023 (989), pp. 1-8 : 5

Psorthaspis mariae (Cresson) (Fiery spider wasp)

This moderate-size spider wasp is red, orange and black in color, the red and orange colors perhaps resembling the color of a burning fire ( Fig. 10 ). However, the colors of this species are no more spectacular or fiery than those of several other similar-colored species of Psorthaspis that resemble male velvet-ants in their coloration and movement or numerous other spider wasp genera of the same color.

Figures

Figures 7–12. Habitus photos of North American Pompilidae. 7) Entypus unifasciatus unifasciatus female, Rock Creek, Washington, DC, USA. Photograph © Landrum Beard. 8) Hemipepsis ustalata female, Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra La Laguna, Baja California Sur State, Mexico. Photograph © Steven Mlodinow. 9) Poecilopompilus algidus algidus female, Warsaw, Hancock County, IL, USA. Photograph © Angella Moorehouse. 10) Psorthaspis mariae female, Buffalo National River, Centerpoint Trail, Newton County, AR, USA, Photograph © Edward Trammel. 11) Tachypompilus unicolor unicolor female, Rocks National Reserve, Cassia County, ID, USA. Photograph © Steven Mlodinow. 12) Tachypompilus analis female, Twun Tong District, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China. Photograph © Keith Chan.