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

The Cryptocheilus bicolor species have a black body with two orange abdominal bands (although observations have included Cryptocheilus bicolor with a yellow band and orange band). Some observations show Cryptocheilus bicolor with an orange abdomen (no bands). The wing colour is orange (the wings can be variable from lightly tinted to a more solid colour), and they have an orange head, antenna and legs.

Spider Wasp (genus Cryptocheilus, family Pompilidae), Alice Springs NT
Spider Wasp (genus Cryptocheilus, family Pompilidae), Alice Springs NT

As well as Cryptocheilus bicolor, there is another common Spider Wasp, Cryptocheilus australis, which lacks the black stripe on the abdomen and has a slightly more yellowish orange tinge on the abdomen.

Cryptocheilus bicolor is often observed in flight around plants and shrubs, as well as on the ground, wher you may see the spider wasps walking rapidly from place to place or moving with short hops.

Female Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor), Thomsons Lake WA © Ben Clark
Female Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor), Thomsons Lake WA © Ben Clark
Cryptocheilus bicolor with prey (Neosparassus sp), Alice Springs NT
Cryptocheilus bicolor with prey (Neosparassus sp), Alice Springs NT
Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor) with prey, Palm Valley, Finke Gorge National Park NT
Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor) with prey, Palm Valley, Finke Gorge NP, NT © Greg Sully

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthopoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Vespoidea
  • Family: Pompilidae
  • Subfamily: Pepsinae
  • Genus: Cryptocheilus
  • Species: Cryptocheilus bicolor

    Source: Atlas of Living Australia (15 December 2024)

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs: Female Cryptocheilus bicolor with Badge Huntsman (Neosparassus spp) © Ben Clark, Insects of Perth & South West Western Australia, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/925620167561301
  2. cloudtogroundimages by Ben Clark, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/cloudtogroundimages/
  3. cloudtogroundimages by Ben Clark, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/cloudtogroundimages/
  4. Orange Spider Wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor) and (Desert Huntsman, Isopedella inola), 2010 © Greg Sully

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

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