Nesting behavior of the spider wasp Calopompilus pyrrhomelas (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)

Abstract

The nesting behavior of the spider wasp Calopompilus pyrrhomelas (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae:Pepsini) is described for the first time based on independent observations and photographic series from Oakland, Alameda County, CA; Denio, Humboldt County, NV; and Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Marin County, CA, respectively. The three wasps captured, immobilized, and provisioned the spider’s own burrows with Calisoga longitarsis (Simon) (Nemesiidae) and Antrodiaetus montanus (Chamberlin and Ivie) (Antrodiaetidae).