First record of host spider amputation by the Japanese spider wasp Cyphononyx fulvognathus (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae)

Abstract

The behavior of amputating the legs of spider prey by Cyphononyx fulvognathus (Pepsini, Pepsinae, Pompilidae) is reported for the first time. The prey was a female of Heteropoda, presumably H. venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae), which is also the first prey record of Heteropoda for this wasp species. The present observation was found to be one of the uncommon examples of prey amputation for Pompilidae, which is common in species of Ageniellini (Pepsinae).