CryptocheilusCryptocheilus bicolor (Orange Spider Wasp)

Australia has many spider wasps species, with the most common species encountered being the Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor, formerly known as Heterodontonyx bicolor).

The female can be up to 5-35 mm in length, with orange-brown coloured wings. They have a black thorax and eyes, with the black extending down to the abdomen, that also includes two broad orange bands. The head, legs and antenna are orange.

As well as the commonly recognised, black body and banded orange and black abdomen (some will have a yellow and orange bands). Other species of Cryptocheilus have a black abdomen (some with an orange tail tip), orange or black upper thorax.

Cryptocheilus fabricolor, Bullsbrook Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Cryptocheilus fabricolor, Bullsbrook Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor), Alice Springs NT
Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor), Alice Springs NT
Spider Wasp (genus Cryptocheilus, family Pompilidae), Alice Springs NT
Spider Wasp (genus Cryptocheilus, family Pompilidae), Alice Springs NT
Cryptocheilus bicolor (Spider Wasp), Alice Springs NT
Cryptocheilus bicolor (Spider Wasp), Alice Springs NT

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthopoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Vespoidea
  • Family: Pompilidae
  • Subfamily: Pepsinae
  • Genus: Cryptocheilus
  • Species:
    • Cryptocheilus australasiae (Haupt, 1935)
    • Cryptocheilus australis (Guérin-Méneville, 1838)
    • Cryptocheilus basipennis (Turner, 1910)
    • Cryptocheilus bicolor (Fabricius, 1775)
    • Cryptocheilus darwinii Turner, 1910
    • Cryptocheilus distinctus (Smith, 1868)
    • Cryptocheilus fulvidorsalis Turner, 1910
    • Cryptocheilus modestus (Smith, 1855)
    • Cryptocheilus praepositus Haupt, 1935
    • Cryptocheilus sathanas Turner, 1910

      Source: Atlas of Living Australia (15 December 2024)

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthopoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Subclass: Pterygota
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Suborder: Apocrita
  • Infraorder: Aculeata
  • Superfamily: Pompiloidea
  • Family: Pompilidae
  • Subfamily: Pepsinae
  • Tribe: Pepsini
  • Genus: Cryptocheilus
  • Species:
    • Cryptocheilus annulatus
    • Cryptocheilus attenuatum
    • Golden Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus australis)
    • Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor)
    • Cryptocheilus darwinii
    • Cryptocheilus discolor
    • Cryptocheilus distinctus
    • Cryptocheilus egregius
    • Cryptocheilus elegans
    • Cryptocheilus fabricii
    • Cryptocheilus fischeri
    • Cryptocheilus freygessneri
    • Cryptocheilus fulvidorsalis
    • Cryptocheilus guttulatus
    • Cryptocheilus hispanicus
    • Cryptocheilus ichneumonoides
    • Cryptocheilus idoneum
    • Cryptocheilus infumatus
    • Cryptocheilus morosus
    • Cryptocheilus notatus
    • Cryptocheilus octomaculatus
    • Cryptocheilus pallidipenne
    • Cryptocheilus perezi
    • Cryptocheilus pictifrons
    • Cryptocheilus praepositus
    • Cryptocheilus rhodesianus
    • Cryptocheilus richardsi
    • Cryptocheilus rubellus
    • Cryptocheilus severini
    • Cryptocheilus swierstrae
    • Cryptocheilus terminatus
    • Cryptocheilus variabilis
    • Cryptocheilus variipennis
    • Cryptocheilus versicolor

      Source: iNatuarliastAU (15 December 2024)

Footnote & References

  1. Orange Spider Wasp Cryptocheilus bicolor), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/198790-Cryptocheilus-bicolor
  2. Cryptocheilus bicolor (Fabricius, 1775), Spider Hunting Wasp, Museums Victoria Collections, https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/species/8608
  3. Spider wasp, NSW Department of Primary Industries, https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/bees-and-wasps/spider-wasp

CryptocheilusCryptocheilus bicolor (Orange Spider Wasp)

Cryptocheilus bicolor (Orange Spider Wasp)Cryptocheilus bicolor Prey Cryptocheilus bicolor Variation

WaspsWasps Index Australian Large Wasps Australian Mud Nest Wasps Mud Wasp Velvet Ants Abispa ephippium Acarozumia amaliae Aulacidae Australodynerus Bembix Bembicinae Bethylidae Blue Hairy Flower Wasp Braconidae Chrysididae Cryptocheilus Delta latreillei (Potter Wasp) Delta philantes Eumeninae Euodynerus aspra Ferreola handschini (Orange-collared Spider Wasp) Flower Wasps Gasteruptiid Wasp Hairy Flower Wasps Isodontia (Grass-carrying Wasp) Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid Dupe Wasp) Mutillidae Orange Wasps Paralastor sp. Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides Radumeris radula (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Radumeris tasmaniensis (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Sceliphron laetum Sphex Thynnid Wasps Tiphiidae Torymus Yellow and Black Wasp

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub