2 spiders and chalcid wasp.

[Paul Iddon]

Two spiders out of the dozen or so that were on the fence the other night.

First is a male rabbit hutch spider (Steatoda bipuncta - one of the false widows) and the other two are of a silver-sided sector female (Zygiella x-notata) making herself a meal of a midge.

Following those are couple of a resting chalcid wasp (Chalicidoidea indet).

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

What is the long feature tgst appears to be coming from thr end of thr abdomen. Is this an ovipositor?

Asher

 

[Paul Iddon]

View attachment 10891

What is the long feature tgst appears to be coming from thr end of thr abdomen. Is this an ovipositor?

Asher

Correct - this is the female, and that is the ovipositor.

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Correct - this is the female, and that is the ovipositor.

Paul.

Wow!

Why so long?

 

[Paul Iddon]

Not sure, though this one is quite short compared to some...

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Not sure, though this one is quite short compared to some...

Paul.

Does the wasp lay eggs in thr body of other insects it captures?

 

[Paul Iddon]

Asher, yes. These parasitoid wasps lay their eggs inside other insects. When the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae devour the host insect alive, until they're ready to turn into adult wasps and leave. The host is doomed to die.

Paul.