Story: Insects – overview

Spider-hunting wasp

Spider-hunting wasp

Hunting wasps are solitary insects that nest underground. The females hunt and paralyse spiders with their stinger, dragging them back to the nest to feed to their larvae. The spider is dropped into a cell constructed of mud, and the wasp lays an egg on top of it. When the larva hatches from the egg it feeds on the tissues of the spider.

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Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand
Reference: In1746Rbt.tif
Photograph by Dick Roberts

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How to cite this page:

George Gibbs, 'Insects – overview - Groups few in number', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10050/spider-hunting-wasp (accessed 15 May 2024)

Story by George Gibbs, published 24 Sep 2007